Healthcare Systems

Alternate Health

2010-06-25T05:44:00.003-07:00

Alternate health is the name given to the practice of curing that does not fall in the category of conventional medicine. It is also attacked by the complementary medicine of today's world as being unable to show consistency to be efficient. It's development, unlike complementary medicine, does not includes a scientific approach but it is based on historical and cultural grounds. Alternate medicine started to be known as "alternate" when complementary medicine became very popular because it was very productive and effective on diseases such as malaria, typhoid and smallpox. Before that alternate medicine was the "only" kind of medicine available.

Alternate health encompasses a huge variety of treatments, cures and procedures from different parts of the world. Some common types of this particular medicine are ayurveda, meditation, yoga, hypnosis, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, aromatherapy, herbalism, chiropractic, naturopathy etc. Techniques like meditation and yoga try to strengthen a human being from the inside by focusing on desired objective and by controlling body's desires. Techniques such as ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism use naturally occurring ingredients in their medicine. These include herbs, spices, plant extracts, different minerals and animal parts. Other procedures such as acupuncture and chiropractic rely on physical treatment.

With the growing side-effects, expensiveness and the general bad opinion of complementary medicine, alternate medicine has seen an increase in its usage in the past some time. The growth of alternate medicine has however alerted the authorities because such practices do not come under laws that previously monitored complementary medicine and they can have bad consequences for their recipients. An advancement that has taken place is the grouping of complementary and alternate medicine under one umbrella which has come to be known as CAM or complementary and alternate medicine. This grouping has been done so that research can be taken place on both side of the medicine world over new diseases and laws can be implemented which consider both types of medicines. This grouping has however been opposed by fundamentalists in both fields who think that these two perspectives can only work If they are kept separate.

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Closed System Drug Transfer Device - Highly Efficient in Minimizing Risks of Exposures

2010-06-25T05:44:00.002-07:00

To avoid the risks of exposures to hazardous drugs, use of safety systems is highly essential. Closed System Drug Transfer device is one such safety system which enables safe handling of harmful drugs and other toxic chemicals. Various surveys have presented the adverse effects of exposures to hazardous drugs to the workers engaged in different drug related activities. These effects can be of short term as well as long term which include skin and eye infections, allergic reactions, respiratory and reproductive disorders, birth defects, leukemia and cancer. Due to emissions during various drug related activities, the surroundings get contaminated and it badly affects the healthcare workers and other persons available there. Hence contamination of workplaces must be prevented.

Chemotherapy treatment needs cytotoxic and antineoplastic drugs. These hazardous drugs have harmful chemicals that can affect the person handling and monitoring them. Exposure to these perilous dugs can be caused by aerosols, vapors, spills, leaks and needle stick injuries. The conventional equipments used in this process do not offer prevention against the dripping of medications and escape of harmful chemicals. A closed system drug transfer device is very effective in such situations as it is airtight and leak proof. It has a pressure equalization system that does not allow the escape of aerosols and vapors. It is designed to offer complete protection against hazardous drugs.

Some of the closed system uses the concept of dual needle syringe. One needle extracts the medicine into the syringe unit from the vial and another needle provides the sterile air to the vial. This enables pressure equalization in both syringe unit and vial therefore the needles are not exposed to environmental disinfectants. Correct dose of medications can be drawn out using this system with no spillage. Hence closed systems are very helpful in minimizing the risks of exposures to harmful drugs.

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Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Treatment in Adults

2010-06-25T05:44:00.001-07:00

When Human growth hormone (HGH) is introduced into the body. HGH had been around but had not been used as lots of until the attacks on bodybuilding supplements. When used correctly Human growth hormone (HGH) presents many incredible benefits for specific medical conditions. Unfortunately there is not much study on the practices, but Human growth hormone (HGH) can be used to effectively treat serious conditions such as multiple sclerosis. HGH can also help you reduce wrinkles, lose weight, and treat heart failure. Unfortunately, Human growth hormone (HGH) can not be used to treat any condition but there are some conditions that can be treated. Your physician can determine whether it is better to use as a treatment for Human growth hormone (HGH) and what the outcome will be for your situation. If you suffer from multiple sclerosis or multiple sclerosis, treatment of hgh can be beneficial.

The severe conditions that can benefit from the type of hormone therapy should be closely monitored. Individuals with serious medical conditions should try another method before undergoing any type of growth hormone (GH) treatment. Exact science behind hgh for weight loss is unknown. There is still a study on the effectiveness of the use of hgh for obesity. Of course, it is a very complicated method. Its use for weight loss should be done carefully and slowly over time. You must stop the use when the desired outcome is achieved. Muscle mass is more developed using this to lose weight, while fat tissue is reduced. Human growth hormone (HGH) doesn't make you fat-loosing machine overnight. Individuals must work to achieve power in their own time and increase your physical strength. Doing so would definitely benefit those who are extremely overweight.

While these hormone doesn't discontinue aging or even reverse aging, reduce speed and improve the condition caused by age. Tests on men who were given hormone increases bone density and also gained more lean mass. These are the two most important factors parents who want to become active and strong. Using human growth hormone (HGH) for Aging is very controversial and not widespread. Further research is needed to determine how hgh actually benefits. When this research is conducted, scientists can discover surprising results. Side effects associated with the use of these medications include the risk of diabetes. If individuals are treated with big doses or if used for the not specific reasons then the risk is much higher than usual.

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Best Usage of Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

2010-06-25T05:44:00.000-07:00

HGH is a protein, produced in the brain with a gland called the pituitary gland that regulates body's aging process. The main action as the name suggests, is to manage and promote repair of the body. In children, the role of HGH only as a growth regulator compatible with the surge, the development of internal organs, maximizing the immunity, etc. But in adults, HGH is the main part overall health of the human body with great fanfare the creation and re-growth of tissues. Therefore, maintaining a healthy body and hot. Rigorous training regimen usually tends to increase the amount of natural Human Growth Hormone (HGH) in the body. Adequate rest for about eight hours a day is a best regulator of the level of organic HGH in the body. There are various benefits to increase natural Human Growth Hormone (HGH) levels that have been documented and many more that have not been met.

HGH is a hormone of the pituitary gland which helps to bring production. Therefore, a small boost in concentration can result in time, a greater increase in levels in the body. HGH in the concentration aids aid in combating the disease in the body, increasing the number of blood cells. The benefits of increasing the level of Human growth hormone (HGH) is that welfare improves cardiovascular health, leading to growth of other organs to the brain and improve the taste and the shadow of the skin and pores. An additional benefit to grow organic levels of HGH is that it activates grow in hormone levels of the body. Hormones are chemical agents promoting the body's organs in such action, increase your energy level. In addition, it also improves the overall quality of sleep. Thus, it provides that extra power needed to obtain through a difficult day. Human Growth Hormone (HGH) provokes the generation of proteins in the muscle groups and grows the process of fat metabolism. Increased amount of HGH in your body thickness grow lean muscle mass and adipose tissue as well. Increased muscle and decrease body fat. This is one of the main benefits of increased Human Growth Hormone (HGH) levels.

When we attain older, the amount of HGH in your body starts to depreciate. It is considered one of the main reasons for the growth of the ancients. The benefits that increase the levels of HGH the body is that the normal human body blocked the aging trend. This occurs because the main action of HGH is complete the system of cellular material. With more new cells in the body that marks the old and dying, the body strokes younger and more energetic now. If Human Growth Hormone (HGH) can be treated at levels identical to those found in a teenager, your body usually will stay healthy.

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Methods to Minimize the Risks of Exposures to Hazardous Drugs

2010-06-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

Medical Science has developed a lot in the field of medicines. Pharmaceutical Engineering has provided medicines for most deadly and life taking diseases. These medicines are prepared from toxic and non-toxic chemicals that can save thousands of lives. But if exposed, these medicines can take thousands of lives. Some of the professionals that are more prone to these hazardous exposures are physicians, nurses, healthcare workers, laundry workers and other employees of hospitals and drug handling activities.

The risks of exposures to hazardous drugs can occur in different steps of drug development, administration, handling, transport, disposal etc. These exposures can be very harmful and can cause severe health disorders. Therefore apposite care should be taken while handling these hazardous drugs. Healthcare staffs can be exposed to these perilous drugs in several ways. Harmful chemicals can enter their body in the form of vapors, aerosols etc. Through dermal contact and accidental inhalation also, harmful substances can enter their body. These risks of exposures can be minimized by using personal protective equipments like gloves, gowns and surgical masks. Medicine preparation and mixing must be done in biological safety cabinets to shun all sorts of infections and chances of spillage and leakage.

Occupational exposures to hazardous drugs can cause immediate health disorders like skin and eye irritation, allergies and infections. Also long term and severe disorders can take place like sterility, respiratory and reproductive disorders, congenital malformations, birth defects, leukemia and various types of cancer. To combat these situations, closed system drug transfer devices should be used during different drug related activities. These safety systems are airtight and leak proof. They are designed in such a way that they do not allow the escape of harmful chemicals to outside and the entry of outer contamination in to the system. Proper trainings should be given to all healthcare workers to handle these harmful drugs safely.

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Enterprise Resource Planning Software in Healthcare Sector

2010-02-08T06:56:00.001-08:00

Healthcare is a sector of great importance, as those related with here are human beings, rather than machines. Here, lives are at stake, in the sense of reality than just business dealings, where it's the numbers or hefty sums that are pivotal in considerations. There are many factors in association with the healthcare sector. Nowadays, software also plays its part in facilitating actual progress and results in the healthcare sector.

ERP is one such software used in the healthcare sector. ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. This software stores, organizes and retrieves information from a common database as and when required. In the past years, the systems to keep records and organize them to meet formalities were so informal and unsystematic that, lives were at times, on stake. But now, with ERP in scenario, all information on patient is stored in a common database, to which all hospitals have access and are connected from within. This helps, save lives of patients, without problems of the doctor not knowing the medical history of patients, incase of emergencies. This makes the healthcare sector function, with greater accuracy, precision and effectiveness. Here, life of the patient is given top and utmost priority as always.

This software also helps to bringing down the costs, which stood high, without ERP in existence. The involvement of paper works are kept to the minimal, which reduces errors, loses of information and other problems of storage. This software helps in the fast and timely retrieval of information to facilitate saving the patients when it really matters the most.

Advantages of ERP in Healthcare Sector

Accurate Data

The data provide through this software is accurate as the system used is fully automated. The data stored are very much in relation with the patients and their medical history, and so, chances of the data being faulty can't be encouraged by the healthcare sector.

Fast Retrieval

Information through this software can be retrieved at a very fast rate than, when this system was manual. This helps to save lives of patients at a higher rate than before when, stacks of paper works had to be referred to know about a patient who was admitted to the same hospital.

Disadvantages of ERP in Healthcare Sector

Chances of Crash

Since it is software, the chances of it crashing, can't be avoided or not taken into account. This is an area, which has to be given real and prompt thought into. Chances of such system crashes can't be taken lightly in the healthcare sector, as it is human lives, which are always at stake.

Vendor Selection

Software always are in danger of being tampered with and even duplicated for more benefits to the dealer or parties, whomsoever are related with it. But since here, it is the healthcare sector that is thought about; such mistakes in selecting an authentic and trustworthy vendor can't be set aside.

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An Overview on Exposure to Hazardous Drugs

2010-02-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

The preparation of Hazardous Drugs involves toxic and potent agents, which may cause immediate and long-term negative health effects when exposed to workers and staffs in healthcare industries. Studies showed a correlation between workers directly or indirectly involved with these drugs and the increased risk of developing skin rashes, reproductive disorders, respiratory problems, as well as the risk of leukemia and other forms of cancer.

The day pharmaceutical companies and healthcare industries came to know about the adverse effects of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs, they have been working on the projects to design a cost effective and easy to use system, which will help healthcare staffs to safely handle hazardous substances. Their design prospects mainly included no drip-tip technology for the leak free transfer of these drugs and reduced surface contamination. They also intended to design a passive safety system, which automatically encloses upon disconnection and prevent free flow of drugs. An automatic safety lock to be incorporated to ensure safety against accidental discharges.

A closed system drug transfer device is one such protective device that mechanically transfers the environmental contaminants and sterile products into a closed system and prevents escape of aerosols, vapor concentrations and drugs from vials outside the system. It has benefit over the use of biological safety cabinet, as it is both airtight and leak proof. These devices when accessed in proper way will result in protection against exposure to hazardous agents.

Safe handling of these drugs involves protection of healthcare workers throughout the processes of drug preparation, administration and disposal. Personal protective equipments such as lab courts, gloves, masks, etc. does not ensure adequate protection against workers handling such medications. Therefore, healthcare organizations have issued safety guidelines to healthcare workers and recommend the practice of closed drug transfer devices in all such processes. Research has shown that while compounding hazardous drugs in conjunction with a closed-system drug transfer device, a significant reduction in drug contaminants in the nearby environment has resulted out.

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Tips For Choosing The Right Hospital

2010-02-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

All hospitals are definitely not created equal. Specialty and "boutique-type" hospitals are popping up in every good sized town and the ones that used to be of the "general" variety, have also restructured, added or deleted services and found their niche in the new world of hospital services. To make it even more confusing, many free-standing surgery centers, 24 hour emergency centers and other ancillary service centers are proliferating at a phenomenal rate. As a retired health care business development specialist, I can only imagine how hospital systems are scrambling to keep up and position themselves as the leaders with the newest and best equipment and services.
But, as a consumer, how do you know that the hospital you choose is really the right one for you?

There is an enormous amount of very clinical (and sometimes confusing) information about any hospital that is licensed to operate in the United States. You can find it all over the internet or just by calling the hospital association for your state and requesting information such as mortality and morbidity statistics (cheery reading) or how the hospital scored on its most recent Joint Commission survey. The Joint Commission is an independent group of experts in all areas of hospital operation, from safety, to bedside care, to the food served in hospitals. Most hospitals voluntarily submit to these often grueling (and surprisingly subjective, not to mention inconsistent) surveys because their ability to accept most of the larger insurance carriers requires a certain minimum score to participate.

But, most health care consumers want to take a "snapshot" of a hospital, make a quick decision....and hope for the best. The following hospital tips have been compiled by the people who know the hospitals best: hospital professionals, themselves. They are often indicators of how the hospital operates, overall, and can be a quick and easy way to determine what kind of care you are likely to get.

1. The hospital's appearance is an important and surprisingly often overlooked indicator of how the hospital functions. Look at the flooring. Are the carpets worn and dirty? Are the elevators polished and bright or do they look old, dingy and downright grimy? What do the public restrooms look (and smell) like? Are the hospital personnel well-dressed in proper uniforms? Is the signage appropriate and easy to read? Can you find your way around without assistance? Are the common areas bright and clean, with healthy plants and comfortable chairs? You can be pretty certain that if the hospital looks bad, the care probably will be, too. (The exception to this rule can be the downtown trauma hospitals in big cities. These often grungy places can be the best places to go if you have suffered some horrendous trauma, such as a gunshot, dismemberment, etc. In that case, you will hardly be noticing your surroundings. But, don't go there to have your baby and expect a lovely environment!).

2. Find out what the hospital is well-known for. This can be difficult as hospitals tend to advertise, just like any other business and they sometimes have quite inflated ideas of what they are (or should be). An example of this is the hospital that advertises itself as "for children" and directs a lot of their advertising budget towards convincing the public that it is. True Children's Hospitals are just that: for children ONLY. They don't treat adults. They are the only hospitals who can accurately claim that children are their specialty.

3. How hospitals staff their nursing units says a lot about the level of care you will receive should you wind up in one of them. However, this is not information that most hospitals will share with you. What you want to know is the nurse to patient ratio. A hospital that tends to staff down will have too many patients being cared for by exhausted and overworked individuals. Before you choose a hospital, take advantage of a visit to a friend or acquaintance who might be a patient there and use your powers of observation. Or, just hang out by the nurse's station for awhile. If it looks and sounds like chaos and there are a lot of call buttons going off and no one answering, this is a red flag.

4. All hospitals do not charge the same for same or similar services. Surprise! So, how can you comparison shop between hospitals? One way would be to contact the hospital association for your state and request that information. But, you can also call a few hospitals ahead of time to get an estimate on the cost of your surgery or procedure. You will need to give them all the information you can including what kind of insurance you have, the exact condition you have and what the surgery or procedure will be that you are contemplating. You might find that you could save several thousand dollars by choosing one hospital over another (assuming your physician/surgeon is licensed, and willing, to perform your surgery there).

5. Have lunch or a snack in the hospital's cafeteria. The same food is served to the patients, so pay attention. Is it fresh and acceptable? If not, you might want to cross this hospital off your list. (You would be surprised by the number of times people have been made sick by eating the food in some hospitals). You should also know that most hospitals, nowadays, farm out their food services to outside companies such as the ones who provide food services to large venues, like ballparks and convention centers.

This checklist can provide you with a very revealing snapshot of the hospital you are considering without wading through mountains of data. And when it comes down to it, the place you choose should be one that you feel safe and relatively comfortable in. If you do just a little bit of homework in advance of your choosing a hospital, you might find that it pays off in the end with a better hospital stay.

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Thermal Ultrasound Paper is Required by Ultrasound Printers

2010-02-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Ultrasound printers require special thermal ultrasound paper.

Ultrasound machines have computers and software to process video images and pass them to special printers, like the Mitsubishi P-93W ultrasound printer and the Sony UP-895MD ultrasound printer.

What is Ultrasound Paper?

Ultrasound paper is thermal paper, and is coated with an "ink" compound that you can't see, and when heat is applied to it, an image will appear.

How Does Ultrasound Paper Work?

To get the ultrasound paper to display the image that you want, the printer instructs the tiny print head element to apply precise amounts of heat to cause a reaction that creates a dark image.

* What Type of Ultrasound Paper Can I Get? You can get thermal ultrasound paper in rolls.
* It also comes in sheets.
* You can print color images onto color ultrasound thermal papers.
* You can print black and white images.

There are many types of thermal papers that you can get for a variety of applications. Some papers are coated with a compound that will display an image on paper for a long time, and less expensive papers will maintain a visible image for a short time. The life of the image depends on two critical criteria.

1. Ensuring that the papers are matched to the ultrasound printer so that the image color will fully develop.
2. Selecting the appropriate grade to match the needs of the end user. For example, thermal products designed for ultrasound medical imaging have significantly improved image stability over thermal papers formulated for short duration such as gas station receipts.

Image life can be greatly improved, to seven years or longer, by selecting the appropriate grade for the application and storage precautions. Remember that ultrasound paper is thermal paper, as in "heat sensitive", and therefor should not be stored or carried near a heat source.

How is Ultrasound Thermal Paper Made?

Above it was stated that thermal paper is coated with chemical compound. It feels kind of slippery, and often has an odd chemical smell. That is due to the chemical coatings. The chemical coating is what reacts to heat. Chemicals on the ultrasound thermal papers can consist of dyes, antioxidants, inert pigments, and waxes, among other things.

According to patent holders Sharad Mathur, Ivan Petrovic, David Lewis, Xiaolin D. Yang, and Ernest M. Finchhermal thermal paper usually consists of at least three layers:

1. Substrate layer: This is simply the paper layer.
2. Base layer: This includes a binding element, which can consist of such things as starches, gelatin and certain alkali salts. Another component of this layer is what's called a porosity improver, which helps heat travel through the paper.
3. Active layer: This layer contains a colorless chemical formula that reacts to heat.

Smartsound Ultrasound rotates paper stock that is stored in a temperature controlled environment ensuring freshness.

Buy Ultrasound Paper Today, and it will Ship To You Today.

At the time of this writing, DrSmart.com sells

Sony UPP-110 paper including:

* UPP-110s
* UPP-110HA
* UPP-110HD
* UPP-110HG

Sony UPC paper including:

* UPC-55
* UPC-510
* UPC-21L

And Mitsubishi paper including:

* K65HM
* K91HG

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Improve Office Productivity With a New DR System

2010-02-08T06:49:00.000-08:00

Digital medical imaging has changed the way medicine is practiced. Digital images can be sent and received over the Internet, decreasing transmission time to seconds rather than days. Archiving capabilities allow medical facilities both large and small to quickly and easily comply with HIPPA patient record storage rules. Digital images can be taken and then enhanced on a computerized clinical workstation. With all of these advantages, many medical offices are making the switch to digital imagery. If you are in the market for a new digital imaging system, you should consider the use of a new DR system and how it can improve the workflow in your medical office.

A DR, or Digital Radiography, system is one of the best choices for enhancing the speed of image capture. With fewer processing steps in the creation of digital medical images than that offered by CR, computed radiography, systems, the digital radiography system provides much faster digital image acquisition times. This fact alone will improve your office workflow, because you can capture your digital images more quickly and efficiently, allowing you to take many more images in the same amount of time used by a computed radiography system.

The quality of digital medical images produced is better with a DR system. DR imaging systems create higher resolution in digital medical images than do CR systems. This is a crucial factor when you are considering that your diagnoses are made based on the medical images you take, and thus the resolution quality is of primary concern for physicians. This factor will also add another benefit to your office's work flow, because less time will have to be spent at a clinical workstation enhancing images when they are automatically taken and produced with an improved resolution.

All forms of medical imaging exposes patients and personnel to a certain amount of radiation. In order to protect your patients and staff, you will want the least amount of exposure possible in order to acquire the digital medical images that you need. Comparing systems commonly found in the rad room, the DR units will use less radiation to capture the digital images than a computed radiography system.

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Connection Between Community and Health - An Understanding

2010-01-14T06:53:00.002-08:00

Living in a land that offers plenty; plenty of food, transportation, entertainment, and easy access to the electronic age leaves a burning question for me. What are we lacking if so many things are so easy to obtain?

What could we be lacking when cars, buses, fast food, movie theaters and golf courses are everywhere. How have human connections been impacted? I'm not referring to a 30 second conversation when ordering a meal with the waiter, or even a longer "relationship" with the person who is selling us a car.

I have to wonder in what ways our familial and close community ties have been impacted and if so, has that also made any difference in our health?

Luckily, there are many number of popular researchers who also think of the same questions. And they do also have the fire to find the answer.

This community had similar eating habits as of their neighbors, this study has been conducted for nearly 30 years in 1950's. In a town called Roseto, Pennsylvania a study has been conducted among an Italian-American community and this is called "The Roseto Effect".

In short, the study found that these people had longer life spans and were overall much healthier than their neighboring counterparts. This was true in spite of the aforementioned risk factors including smoking and lack of regular exercise.

This group of people has been genetically gifted that has been concluded in the study. But the younger generation of this group saw their health declining. In the initial stage they maintained close relation within family and community and they also maintained good health. But once they came out of the family and community their health started to deteriorate.

Love and affection showered upon a person will have direct and positive effect on his health even though he has some traditional bad habits in him. This what I advocated in my previous article on how the love and affects shown by our pets have positive results on our health.

We do not have to be part of a large family to inject ourselves into a community. We may just have to be a little more creative and open in order to acquire the sense of community. Watching a movie can be great entertainment, but it is a very solitary activity which requires no interaction with anyone else.

On the other hand, discussing a movie, book and personal values with others does create a connection. Asking the waiter where he or she is from or going to school etc. rather than just inquiring about today's special also initiates closer personal ties.

Being self entertained can still be good and force some internal reflection in understanding who we are as people. But denying these very important family or community ties will ultimately shorten our lives unless we tend to them the way we might tend to our cars insuring they are clean and running properly.

Regular exercise and food with less fat is always advised. It also recommended to all of us to treat our relationships inside the family with utmost care and love.

I would also like introduce all my natural alternative health program. All these programs contain easy to use exercises and comes with proven results. It may help some of your dear ones who are suffering from the ailments.

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Duties of a CNA in Nursing Homes

2010-01-14T06:53:00.001-08:00

There are many different duties of a CNA in nursing homes. You will keep quite busy throughout the day if you are working in a continuing care community. If you are a CNA working in a nursing home, you will help residents with a variety of different needs. The type of tasks that you complete throughout the day can vary depending on which wing of the nursing home you are working on. No matter where you are working, you will always do all you can to provide kind and compassionate care to your patients.

There are many patients in a continuing care community who need assistance walking or who need to me moved in a wheelchair from their room to the dining hall, activity room and other areas. Some residents will need help eating and with other activities of daily living. When working as a CNA in a nursing home setting, you will most likely be required to bathe many of the residents.

Some residents will need assistance with toileting. There will be residents who need to wear adult diapers and who will need to be changed. You will always help a patient to maintain their dignity. When working with patients who are not able to move on their own, you will reposition them in their bed every couple hours to prevent bedsores.

If you are working as a certified nursing assistant, you will help residents with their grooming needs. There are some residents who you will help to brush their teeth, comb their hair and to put on makeup. Some men will need your help to shave or will need to be shaved. You might be asked to paint a lady's fingernails or help to style her hair.

You might be responsible for changing a resident's linen on their bed or even to do some light cleaning in their room if you are working as a nursing assistant. You will be apprised of your exact duties in regards to housekeeping when you are hired for employment.

As a CNA, you might be asked to help to oversee a patient's exercises. If a patient is able to exercise on their own, you can watch them go through their range of motion type exercises. You will be there if they have a problem or need some assistance while exercising. This is not something you will take upon yourself to do but rather only as directed by your supervisor.

When you are working as a nursing assistant in a nursing home, you might take vital signs. This could include monitoring blood pressure and temperature. You might be asked to chart a resident's intake of food and liquids. In some cases you might even help to monitor blood pressure readings. If a patient is ill or injured, you will need to follow your facilities procedure for reporting their ailment and getting them the help that they need. When you are hired for employment at a nursing home, you will be provided with details on your specific duties.

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How the Health Care Reform Might Affect You - Controversies, Disputes and Concerns

2010-01-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

The biggest dispute has been how to fund the legislation; in other words where will the money come from with the question whether to include a government run insurance plan and how much to spend on subsidies that would help the lower and middle income Americans so that they can afford insurance.

The most controversial issue though remains that of abortion with the bill allowing insurance plans in newly created exchanges in the market place to offer abortion coverage; however the senate bill wants to extend it further so that insurers who get government subsidies cannot provide abortion coverage at all.

If you don't have health insurance you would be required to have coverage and if you do not have one you would pay a penalty which would be 2.5% of your income. Of course there would be exceptions due to financial hardships or religious reasons.

So in 2014 the penalty for not having coverage would be $95 or 0.25 of your income whichever is higher and the penalty would rise in 2016 to $750, or 2% of income up to the cost of the cheapest health plan.

If you are a senior and are over 65 years old, the medicare prescription drug benefit would be improved greatly with both bills allowing most seniors to get half-priced-brand name drugs when they hit the gap. If you are one of the beneficiaries of Advantage, the private plan part of medicare, the government would cut back on funding and so you could lose extra benefits that many of the private plans offer such as hearing aids, gym memberships and free eyeglasses.

For those that want health coverage but cannot afford it, the legislation would expand medicaid, which is a state-federal program for poor people and those with disabilities. Millions of people would be included even those without children that wouldn't normally be eligible. If your income is 150% of the federal poverty level or $16,245 you could be eligible for Medicaid.

If you make too much for Medicaid you could get help buying private insurance and if you make too much to qualify for subsidies you could still get some financial relief. The new bills would require your insurer to pick up your out-of-pocket costs - amounts of the bill that you would pay once they exceeded a certain amount.

If you work for a company, you will not need to buy insurance as new responsibilities will be placed on the employer to begin offering insurance but the companies would receive financial incentives.

Do these health reforms increase my taxes? - These bills will most likely hit the wealthy but in different ways. There would be a 5.4% income tax surtax on individuals who make more than $500,000 a year and couples that earn more than $1 million. Medicare payroll tax would be increased from 1.45% to 2.35% for people who make more than $200,000 a year and families that make more than $250,000 per year.

How will the government raise money for this legislation? - There would be a 40% tax on the portion of employer-sponsored health coverage that is more than $8500 a year for individuals and $23,000 for families. The threshold for deducting medical expenses on your federal tax forms 1040 would be increased from 7.5% to 10%.

Will it be possible for you to buy insurance even if you have health problems? If you have medical issues the new health bill would make it easier for you to get coverage; A pool would be created for high risk people or people that have been rejected for coverage due to preexisting conditions. Insurers will not be able to set lifetime coverage limits.

Younger, healthier people might pay more and insurers would not be permitted to charge sick people more; older people could be charged more than younger people.

Small business owners would be exempt from having to provide coverage to their workers tax credits would be provided to small firms. A company with less than 50 employees or payroll of less than $500,000 will be exempt from having to offer insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phyllis_Chowaniok

Medical Transcription Styles and Formatting

2010-01-14T06:52:00.000-08:00

In addition to learning the unique language used by medical professionals, a medical transcriptionist must also be an expert on English grammar and spelling. As if that isn't enough to remember, there are styles and formats that are unique to the medical field; not being familiar with these accepted guidelines can generate quality assurance issues for a transcriptionist and the medical records and impact patient safety.

Medical Homonyms

Homonyms are difficult for many English speakers to master, but when they occur in medical language, it becomes even more tricky. For example: ileum and ilium. These are medical terms that refer to two different anatomical areas. In order to select the correct spelling, it's necessary to be familiar with the anatomy and to look at the context in which the word occurs. Experienced transcriptionists develop a system of mnemonics that assist them in finding the correct spelling of a homonym.

The ilium is a bone in the pelvis; in lay terms, the hip bone. The ileum is part of the small intestine. An easy mnemonic is to remember that both hip and ilium have the letter "i". After that, a transcriptionist needs to look at the context of the word use in order to apply the appropriate term and spelling.

Although not considered homonyms, there are terms that sound like something else entirely, resulting in a transcription error, usually by an inexperienced transcriptionist. "Below knee amputation" is frequently mistaken for "baloney amputation." An experienced transcriptionist knows that there is no such thing as a "baloney amputation," regardless of whether or not it sounds like that is what a dictator is saying! In medical transcription, these are referred to as "sounds-like" errors.

Abbreviations

Abbreviations are very common in medical terminology. They allow physicians and other healthcare professionals to document records quickly. Unfortunately, there are many terms that can apply to one abbreviation, which can lead to mistakes. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has published a list of terms and abbreviations that can be misread and advised that these be written or transcribed in specific ways in order to avoid confusion.

In medical terminology, the abbreviation OD or o.d. can be either right eye - or once daily. It's essential for a medical transcriptionist to know that the ISMP recommends that neither abbreviation be used, that it be written out as "right eye" or "daily," as appropriate.

Abbreviations may also be misread, as one letter closely resembles another, even in a typewritten report. The ISMP also recommends that the abbreviation "IU" (International Units) not be used, as it can be mistaken for "IV" (intravenous).

There are also guidelines governing abbreviations for measurements. The use of the abbreviation "cc" (cubic centimeters) is common, but not advised; documentation specialists are advised to use the abbreviation "mL" (milliliters) instead, as "cc" can be misread.

Documenting for accuracy and clarity

The core guidelines for medical transcription style and format are geared towards documenting the record with accuracy and clarity so that other healthcare professionals can easily find and read the information they need to make healthcare decisions, while feeling confident that the record is accurate insofar as the transcriptionist is able to interpret the dictator's spoken word and intent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julianne_Weight

Lifestyle and Human Health Care

2009-12-13T02:22:00.000-08:00

Lifestyle changes are becoming the most needed aspect of human health care. The importance of a healthy lifestyle is being stressed all over the world. Researchers have enough evidence to prove that lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet complemented by good levels of physical activity improves the health of entire communities. With the advent of junk food, even kids are deprived of nutrition rich diets.

Television, computer games, and Internet have made physical activity an unknown aspect for many of them. Moreover, bad habits such as smoking and drinking and the use of drugs are hard to be controlled. The absence of proper diet, and physical activity and increase in use of tobacco are said to be a common risk factor for such diseases as cancer, heart attacks and diabetes.

Lifestyle related chronic diseases pose a major threat to human health care. Does a small change in lifestyle really make a difference to an individual's health? If expert opinions are to be believed it does matter a lot. It is high time that governments all over the world take some initiatives to promote healthy lifestyle. We need to educate people that healthy living is possible with healthy choice of lifestyle. What needs to be changed or modified then?

• Eating habits should be at least modified in such a way that the food we intake does no harm to our body. Say Goodbye to junk food, and say Hello to fresh fruits and vegetables
• Daily walk or Running or Jogging or Climbing up stairs would increase your physical activity and hence your longevity
• Try to avoid stress either at work or home
• Involve in Meditation and Yoga at least once a week if you are deeply stressed
• Never give into temptations for Smoking and Drinking
• Kids need to be encouraged to involve in Sports activities
• Governments can help by conducting Awareness Campaigns and restricting Tobacco use

These are some important factors that need to be considered. Unfortunately certain diseases like malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, heart attacks etc. are not caused by any virus or bacteria but because of improper Lifestyle. So, a change will always do wonders. It is not too late to start living healthily. All it takes is a conviction to live happily and the happiness lies in living a healthy life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Padmapriya_Premkumar

Why the Pharmaceutical Industry Needs to Adapt to Emerging Markets

2009-12-13T02:21:00.001-08:00

Even though the pharmaceutical industry has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, there are many emerging trends that may challenge this. And one of these factors is the growth of emerging markets such as India, Brazil, Russia and China, to name a few. With economic growth rates reaching double digit percentages in some of these countries, there is no doubt that they will be major players in the global marketplace of the future. That is why it is no surprise that this recent economic growth is not only catching the attention of key financial players all over the world, but catching the attention of multinational drug companies as well.

As the global pharmaceutical industry continues to grow, some key trends are showing that this growth could soon taper off. Many pharmaceutical consulting firms have seen these trends coming for along time. Trends like the loss of marketing exclusivity, as well as lower contributions from newer products, along with the growing prevalence of generic drugs all over the world, the global pharmaceutical marketplace could be facing a cruel reality. Many pharmaceutical consulting firms are recognizing this trend, and are seeing a pharmaceutical industry in the future, that is very different from the one of the last 50 years.

There is no doubt that the pharmaceutical landscape of the future will be vastly different from the one we know today. For example, back in 1999, before the turn of the century, the top leading pharmaceutical markets in the world were the United States, Japan, and Europe, accounting for nearly 75% of the growth in the global pharmaceutical marketplace. Now compare that to today, where these major markets only account for nearly 45% of the global pharmaceutical growth rate, whereas the emerging markets have jumped from 8% to nearly 30% in this same period. And this trend is only suspected to grow.

While Europe and the US and Japan, are seen as the major players in the pharmaceutical industry, the rest of the world is catching up fast. With the economic downturn in the United States and Europe affecting the growth of these two previously booming economies, emerging economies like China and India are expected to be the beneficiaries in the long run. With their two economies growing at a much faster pace than the US and Europe, there is no doubt that they will be major players in the pharmaceutical industry of the 21st century. Pharmaceutical consultants believe the two main questions will be if drug companies will pick up on this trend, and start marketing more vigorously to emerging markets, or if they will ignore it and continue doing business as usual.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nigel_Smart

Allied Health Staffing Factoring - A Financing Solution For Expanding Companies

2009-12-13T02:21:00.000-08:00

The growing nurse shortage has been in the headlines for years, but there is another very real shortage that's also affecting our nation-the allied health personnel shortage. Defined as clinical healthcare professionals that assist physicians and nurses, allied health personnel are an important part of the healthcare system. Hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are beginning to feel the stress of the aging Baby Boomer population, as these institutions are seeing the allied workforce retiring in droves at the same time that patient intake is increasing. Given the circumstances, now seems like a perfect opportunity for savvy business owners to develop their staffing agency to meet the new demands.

However, growing a business takes money - Allied health staffing agencies need cash to cover the costs of advertising, recruiting, and expanding offices. Unfortunately, right now is a bad time for businesses who are seeking ongoing financing because banks have tightened their lending criteria as a result of the national credit crunch. Moreover, the economic decline instigated a jump in small business credit card interest rates in addition to overly-obtrusive credit restrictions on small business owners.

This situation puts allied health staffing business owners in a conundrum-On the one hand, now is a prime opportunity for supplemental staffing agencies to expand, but on the other hand, no one seems to be lending to businesses these days. Luckily, accounts receivable factoring firms are still lending. What's more, factoring firms do not have the same arduous loan criteria as their conventional counterparts. Here are a few ways that allied health staffing factoring differs from traditional bank loans:

Quick Funding Application Process-Factors generally do not require a history of profitability, personal financial statements, business plans or personal guarantees. Because there are fewer documents needed, allied health staffing companies can receive their first funding within 3-5 days of returning factoring documentation.

No Long-Term Obligation - Many factoring firms will not require business owners to sign a long-term contract. In addition, once the staffing agency has been approved, it can stop or start factoring at any time.

Access to Unlimited Capital - With bank financing, once a company hits the credit limit, it cannot borrow more cash. Invoice factoring is the only source of business financing that grows with the company's sales. As sales increase, more money becomes immediately available to the agency owner.

No Liability on the Company's Balance Sheet - Because factoring is not a small business loan, there is no debt, and there are no monthly payments to 'muddy up' the company balance sheet.

Allied Health Staffing Industry Expertise - Banks work with all kinds of companies, so they might not be familiar with the intricacies of the industry. There are factoring companies out there who understand the ins and outs of the allied health staffing industry, so business owners won't have to worry about teaching a factor about their business model.

The allied health workforce will continue to play an integral role in the healthcare system as the demand for their services continues to rise. This need presents a great opportunity that allied health staffing agencies can use to their advantage. In order for these staffing agencies to acquire new customers, they will need to hire additional employees and possibly expand their infrastructure. Unfortunately, these staffing agencies also need to accomplish this growth during a time when it has become increasingly more difficult to obtain traditional financing. Fortunately, those allied health staffing agencies can use factoring as a flexible financing solution to the cash flow problems that can arise during periods of growth.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Cohen

Mexican Versus American Health Care

2009-12-13T02:19:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons my wife and I sold everything we owned in the States and moved to Mexico was Health Care. You might even say that it was the primary reason.

We began seeing the handwriting on the wall, so to speak, long before such atrocities as "concierge" services or health care, came into being. Though not predicting "concierge" services or health care specifically, we knew something had to be coming down the pike and it would not be for the benefit of the patients but that of the doctors.

If after reading this article which appears on MSNBC, tell me if the whole thing sounds like a BRIBE?

If the articles aren't enough to convince you, follow your doctor home (in a NON-stalker kind of way, of course) and see what kind of house they live in, what make of car, and how many, they drive to park in their three-car garages. Also, check out where they send their kids to school, where they buy their kid's designer clothes, where they all go out to eat. How many on staff at their houses to clean them?

In other words, is this "concierge" services or health care just an attempt to keep the standard of haughty living to which they doctors have grown accustom?

I once heard one of American TV's medical guru tell another doctor she was interviewing that the public needs to "respect" the medical education these doctor have and do as they say without reservation.

The gall.

Anyway, the medical scene in Mexico you will find quite different. No "concierge" services or health care, will hit you in the face by your doctors. The prices are still very reasonable. We pay less than two dollars and fifty cents to see a general practitioner and less than fifty bucks to see a specialists.

Mexican doctors will spend as much time as needed with you. And, they don't charge you a "concierge" service fee to have their cell phone numbers either.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Douglas_Bower

Knee Reconstruction Surgery - Four Sisters - The Same Injury, the Same Surgeon

2009-11-24T07:44:00.001-08:00

To have one family member have a operation would not be anything to difference to hear about in society today, but to hear about a family with four daughters who required the same operation for the same injury and finally having the same surgeon do the procedure would be very unusual to say the least. With this extraordinary development questions needed to be answer to understand why this may have happened to four sisters.

Is this type of injury hereditary?

No it is not but under the circumstances you may think this because of the situation your family has found it self in. This injury is not like let say gout that is hereditary in some cases. Remember this knee ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is an injury that happens while doing aggressive movements in sports causing the knee area to twist awkwardly. Gout is a painful form of arthritis that means to have inflammation of the joints. This injury the ACL is very common in running, jumping and contact sports.

Would each daughter go through the same operation?

The first injuries were done by identical twin sisters, they had the same procedure done to different knees, one did her left ACL the other her right ACL. They also had the same surgeon who is the top in his field of knee and tumour injuries perform the operation. The twins went through the exact same procedure on different knees making their surgeon the first in his field to operate on identical twins with identical injuries on the same day. As for the other two sisters when their injuries occurred they also went through the same surgical process as their twin sisters with the same surgeon. It was a situation that the surgeon had not heard of in one family before in this country. with each sister having the same operation performed to their knee.

How long would the surgery take?

The surgery for each sister with out complications took around one hour per knee. This we know from when the twins first were done each knee had the surgeons marking on it for their operation and also so he would do the correct knee because they had injured the opposite knees to each other. So the surgeon was able to let us know with the other two sisters how long the procedure would be because of the twins, this also helped to prepare the two other daughters for their operation. This also made things easy for the surgeon because the operation on the twins was his template for the other two sisters identical injury.

How long would they be in hospital for?

Their time in hospital was from the morning of the operation and through two over night stays then home for resting. The reason for the two over night's stays was for a follow up on the surgery in case of after surgery complications. Secondly excess fluid built up from the surgery had to be drained from the knee area to increase their recovery and mobility.

When can rehabilitation start?

After a good two weeks resting while having leg elevated they will also need to start the walking process with the aid of there crotches, like back and forward to the bathroom or kitchen or their rooms slowly weight baring each day as much as they are able to. After this period and follow up checks with the surgeon it is time for the Physio to take them through the next step of recovery.

What would their recovery program be?

In all four operations even though they happened in different years the recovery program given to each sister was pretty much 99% similar for the four of them. This included the pre-work out requirements that had to be done before their operations. These pre-rehab workouts were done through their Physiotherapist who was there choice via their surgeon. This work before the procedure was the most important ingredient to a fast recovery for each sister, so making sure they did this work was left up to dad. Working on the quad, calf and hamstring areas for strengthening purposes was the main part of the recovery program before and after surgery. They most also do the work at home as well as in the gym.

There are many answers for many questions that you may want to know here are some that you your self may one day want an answer for. Remember that these questions and answers may be what you are looking for, but then again may not be. "Knee Reconstruction Surgery - Key Questions to ask your Surgeon" is another article written that could be of use as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leonard_Gifford

Health Care Fraud - The Perfect Storm

2009-11-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

Today, health care fraud is all over the news. There undoubtedly is fraud in health care. The same is true for every business or endeavor touched by human hands, e.g. banking, credit, insurance, politics, etc. There is no question that health care providers who abuse their position and our trust to steal are a problem. So are those from other professions who do the same.

Why does health care fraud appear to get the 'lions-share' of attention? Could it be that it is the perfect vehicle to drive agendas for divergent groups where taxpayers, health care consumers and health care providers are dupes in a health care fraud shell-game operated with 'sleight-of-hand' precision?

Take a closer look and one finds this is no game-of-chance. Taxpayers, consumers and providers always lose because the problem with health care fraud is not just the fraud, but it is that our government and insurers use the fraud problem to further agendas while at the same time fail to be accountable and take responsibility for a fraud problem they facilitate and allow to flourish.

1. Astronomical Cost Estimates

What better way to report on fraud then to tout fraud cost estimates, e.g.

- "Fraud perpetrated against both public and private health plans costs between $72 and $220 billion annually, increasing the cost of medical care and health insurance and undermining public trust in our health care system... It is no longer a secret that fraud represents one of the fastest growing and most costly forms of crime in America today... We pay these costs as taxpayers and through higher health insurance premiums... We must be proactive in combating health care fraud and abuse... We must also ensure that law enforcement has the tools that it needs to deter, detect, and punish health care fraud." [Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE), 10/28/09 press release]

- The General Accounting Office (GAO) estimates that fraud in healthcare ranges from $60 billion to $600 billion per year - or anywhere between 3% and 10% of the $2 trillion health care budget. [Health Care Finance News reports, 10/2/09] The GAO is the investigative arm of Congress.

- The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) reports over $54 billion is stolen every year in scams designed to stick us and our insurance companies with fraudulent and illegal medical charges. [NHCAA, web-site] NHCAA was created and is funded by health insurance companies.

Unfortunately, the reliability of the purported estimates is dubious at best. Insurers, state and federal agencies, and others may gather fraud data related to their own missions, where the kind, quality and volume of data compiled varies widely. David Hyman, professor of Law, University of Maryland, tells us that the widely-disseminated estimates of the incidence of health care fraud and abuse (assumed to be 10% of total spending) lacks any empirical foundation at all, the little we do know about health care fraud and abuse is dwarfed by what we don't know and what we know that is not so. [The Cato Journal, 3/22/02]

2. Health Care Standards

The laws & rules governing health care - vary from state to state and from payor to payor - are extensive and very confusing for providers and others to understand as they are written in legalese and not plain speak.

Providers use specific codes to report conditions treated (ICD-9) and services rendered (CPT-4 and HCPCS). These codes are used when seeking compensation from payors for services rendered to patients. Although created to universally apply to facilitate accurate reporting to reflect providers' services, many insurers instruct providers to report codes based on what the insurer's computer editing programs recognize - not on what the provider rendered. Further, practice building consultants instruct providers on what codes to report to get paid - in some cases codes that do not accurately reflect the provider's service.

Consumers know what services they receive from their doctor or other provider but may not have a clue as to what those billing codes or service descriptors mean on explanation of benefits received from insurers. This lack of understanding may result in consumers moving on without gaining clarification of what the codes mean, or may result in some believing they were improperly billed. The multitude of insurance plans available today, with varying levels of coverage, ad a wild card to the equation when services are denied for non-coverage - especially if it is Medicare that denotes non-covered services as not medically necessary.

3. Proactively addressing the health care fraud problem

The government and insurers do very little to proactively address the problem with tangible activities that will result in detecting inappropriate claims before they are paid. Indeed, payors of health care claims proclaim to operate a payment system based on trust that providers bill accurately for services rendered, as they can not review every claim before payment is made because the reimbursement system would shut down.

They claim to use sophisticated computer programs to look for errors and patterns in claims, have increased pre- and post-payment audits of selected providers to detect fraud, and have created consortiums and task forces consisting of law enforcers and insurance investigators to study the problem and share fraud information. However, this activity, for the most part, is dealing with activity after the claim is paid and has little bearing on the proactive detection of fraud.

4. Exorcise health care fraud with the creation of new laws

The government's reports on the fraud problem are published in earnest in conjunction with efforts to reform our health care system, and our experience shows us that it ultimately results in the government introducing and enacting new laws - presuming new laws will result in more fraud detected, investigated and prosecuted - without establishing how new laws will accomplish this more effectively than existing laws that were not used to their full potential.

With such efforts in 1996, we got the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It was enacted by Congress to address insurance portability and accountability for patient privacy and health care fraud and abuse. HIPAA purportedly was to equip federal law enforcers and prosecutors with the tools to attack fraud, and resulted in the creation of a number of new health care fraud statutes, including: Health Care Fraud, Theft or Embezzlement in Health Care, Obstructing Criminal Investigation of Health Care, and False Statements Relating to Health Care Fraud Matters.

In 2009, the Health Care Fraud Enforcement Act appeared on the scene. This act has recently been introduced by Congress with promises that it will build on fraud prevention efforts and strengthen the governments' capacity to investigate and prosecute waste, fraud and abuse in both government and private health insurance by sentencing increases; redefining health care fraud offense; improving whistleblower claims; creating common-sense mental state requirement for health care fraud offenses; and increasing funding in federal antifraud spending.

Undoubtedly, law enforcers and prosecutors MUST have the tools to effectively do their jobs. However, these actions alone, without inclusion of some tangible and significant before-the-claim-is-paid actions, will have little impact on reducing the occurrence of the problem.

What's one person's fraud (insurer alleging medically unnecessary services) is another person's savior (provider administering tests to defend against potential lawsuits from legal sharks). Is tort reform a possibility from those pushing for health care reform? Unfortunately, it is not! Support for legislation placing new and onerous requirements on providers in the name of fighting fraud, however, does not appear to be a problem.

If Congress really wants to use its legislative powers to make a difference on the fraud problem they must think outside-the-box of what has already been done in some form or fashion. Focus on some front-end activity that deals with addressing the fraud before it happens. The following are illustrative of steps that could be taken in an effort to stem-the-tide on fraud and abuse:

- DEMAND all payors and providers, suppliers and others only use approved coding systems, where the codes are clearly defined for ALL to know and understand what the specific code means. Prohibit anyone from deviating from the defined meaning when reporting services rendered (providers, suppliers) and adjudicating claims for payment (payors and others). Make violations a strict liability issue.

- REQUIRE that all submitted claims to public and private insurers be signed or annotated in some fashion by the patient (or appropriate representative) affirming they received the reported and billed services. If such affirmation is not present claim isn't paid. If the claim is later determined to be problematic investigators have the ability to talk with both the provider and the patient...

- REQUIRE that all claims-handlers (especially if they have authority to pay claims), consultants retained by insurers to assist on adjudicating claims, and fraud investigators be certified by a national accrediting company under the purview of the government to exhibit that they have the requisite understanding for recognizing health care fraud, and the knowledge to detect and investigate the fraud in health care claims. If such accreditation is not obtained, then neither the employee nor the consultant would be permitted to touch a health care claim or investigate suspected health care fraud.

- PROHIBIT public and private payors from asserting fraud on claims previously paid where it is established that the payor knew or should have known the claim was improper and should not have been paid. And, in those cases where fraud is established in paid claims any monies collected from providers and suppliers for overpayments be deposited into a national account to fund various fraud and abuse education programs for consumers, insurers, law enforcers, prosecutors, legislators and others; fund front-line investigators for state health care regulatory boards to investigate fraud in their respective jurisdictions; as well as funding other health care related activity.

- PROHIBIT insurers from raising premiums of policyholders based on estimates of the occurrence of fraud. Require insurers to establish a factual basis for purported losses attributed to fraud coupled with showing tangible proof of their efforts to detect and investigate fraud, as well as not paying fraudulent claims.

5. Insurers are victims of health care fraud

Insurers, as a regular course of business, offer reports on fraud to present themselves as victims of fraud by deviant providers and suppliers.

It is disingenuous for insurers to proclaim victim-status when they have the ability to review claims before they are paid, but choose not to because it would impact the flow of the reimbursement system that is under-staffed. Further, for years, insurers have operated within a culture where fraudulent claims were just a part of the cost of doing business. Then, because they were victims of the putative fraud, they pass these losses on to policyholders in the form of higher premiums (despite the duty and ability to review claims before they are paid). Do your premiums continue to rise?

Insurers make a ton of money, and under the cloak of fraud-fighting, are now keeping more of it by alleging fraud in claims to avoid paying legitimate claims, as well as going after monies paid on claims for services performed many years prior from providers too petrified to fight-back. Additionally, many insurers, believing a lack of responsiveness by law enforcers, file civil suits against providers and entities alleging fraud.

6. Increased investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud

Purportedly, the government (and insurers) have assigned more people to investigate fraud, are conducting more investigations, and are prosecuting more fraud offenders.

With the increase in the numbers of investigators, it is not uncommon for law enforcers assigned to work fraud cases to lack the knowledge and understanding for working these types of cases. It is also not uncommon that law enforcers from multiple agencies expend their investigative efforts and numerous man-hours by working on the same fraud case.

Law enforcers, especially at the federal level, may not actively investigate fraud cases unless they have the tacit approval of a prosecutor. Some law enforcers who do not want to work a case, no matter how good it may be, seek out a prosecutor for a declination on cases presented in the most negative light.

Health Care Regulatory Boards are often not seen as a viable member of the investigative team. Boards regularly investigate complaints of inappropriate conduct by licensees under their purview. The major consistency of these boards are licensed providers, typically in active practice, that have the pulse of what is going on in their state.

Insurers, at the insistence of state insurance regulators, created special investigative units to address suspicious claims to facilitate the payment of legitimate claims. Many insurers have recruited ex-law enforcers who have little or no experience on health care matters and/or nurses with no investigative experience to comprise these units.

Reliance is critical for establishing fraud, and often a major hindrance for law enforcers and prosecutors on moving fraud cases forward. Reliance refers to payors relying on information received from providers to be an accurate representation of what was provided in their determination to pay claims. Fraud issues arise when providers misrepresent material facts in submitted claims, e.g. services not rendered, misrepresenting the service provider, etc.

Increased fraud prosecutions and financial recoveries? In the various (federal) prosecutorial jurisdictions in the United States, there are differing loss- thresholds that must be exceeded before the (illegal) activity will be considered for prosecution, e.g. $200,000.00, $1 million. What does this tell fraudsters - steal up to a certain amount, stop and change jurisdictions?

In the end, the health care fraud shell-game is perfect for fringe care-givers and deviant providers and suppliers who jockey for unfettered-access to health care dollars from a payment system incapable or unwilling to employ necessary mechanisms to appropriately address fraud - on the front-end before the claims are paid! These deviant providers and suppliers know that every claim is not looked at before it is paid, and operate knowing that it is then impossible to detect, investigate and prosecute everyone who is committing fraud!

Lucky for us, there are countless experienced and dedicated professionals working in the trenches to combat fraud that persevere in the face of adversity, making a difference one claim/case at a time! These professionals include, but are not limited to: Providers of all disciplines; Regulatory Boards (Insurance and Health Care); Insurance Company Claims Handlers and Special Investigators; Local, State and Federal Law Enforcers; State and Federal Prosecutors; and others.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_J_Osborne

The Role of Electronic Medical Records in Health Reform

2009-11-24T07:43:00.001-08:00

The goal of improving electronic book keeping in the medical industry is to provide a central database for doctors and clinics to make efficient, time sensitive decisions regarding care.

How Electronic Records Help Health Reform

Integration of electronic record keeping can help reduce overall health care expenses by limiting administrative costs, ensuring that duplicate procedures are avoided and checking for allergies and other medical sensitivities across a database. Optimally, the system aims to help medical professionals make better decisions based upon lab results, X-Rays, medical history records and a variety of hospital archives. While there is an up-front cost to integrating the systems, most modern hospitals are actively working to streamline their record keeping and open access to fellow medical facilities.

Currently, less than 25% of practicing doctors utilize electronic records for their patients, while emergency room rates are slightly higher. Under terms of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress allocated funds for doctors who integrate certified electronic record keeping systems. As standards become solidified, a growing number of medical practices are shifting to electronic records.

Privacy and Security in Reform

Many patients' rights advocates have expressed concern over a central health records database, but medical companies are actively working to comply with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) so that records are securely stored and can only be accessed by practicing doctors. Incorporating privacy into insurance records is a core part of the process, and recent health reform efforts have helped streamline secure patient record standards.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Travis_Walker

Hospital Superbugs

2009-11-24T07:43:00.000-08:00

Cases of superbugs on the rise.

The number of cases of the superbugs MRSA and C. difficile rose slightly in the first three months of 2009, despite the best efforts of health authorities to keep the spread of the diseases under control. New figures reveal an increase of 6% in cases of C. difficile in patients aged two and over in England with 8,358 cases reported in January to March. This is in comparison to 7,908 cases reported from October to December 2008. However, the figure still shows a 36% reduction in reported cases compared to the period January to March 2008.

Whilst any reduction in the number of C. difficile and MRSA cases is to be welcomed, it seems that the excellent work carried out by the NHS and health authorities to combat the spread of superbugs in clinical environments is starting to slip back. This is exactly as many feared, as the tide of the battle appears to be turning, standards start to lapse and the numbers creep back up. It goes to show that the spectre of superbugs is a constant shadow over the NHS and complacency cannot permit the number of incidences to begin to rise once more.

Critics have said that a 'plateau' has been reached in the attempt to eradicate superbugs from hospitals and that a new drive was needed to tackle these and other infections. The campaign group MRSA Action has also accused the government of relying on major reductions at a few hospitals to make the overall picture look better and that the national figures masked a 'postcode lottery', with some hospitals making virtually no progress in combating the spread of superbugs.

All of this makes those who specialise in medical negligence claims question the progress that has been made in the prevention of infections within what are supposed to be clinically safe environments. One of the primary reasons for bringing a claim of medical negligence or suing the NHS over superbug infection is to draw attention to failings that are the cause of cases. Only then can action be taken by individual trusts and 'lessons learned', preventing others from falling victim to the same situation. If those lessons are, in fact, not being learned, how can the point be driven home harder to force health authorities to act and counter the challenge of MRSA and C. difficile on their wards?

The problems have been pointed out time and again to every health authority in the UK and the reduction in the number of cases from the same period last year shows that methods being employed are effective. The problems seem to start when a gradual decline in the high standards set to achieve government targets in the reduction of superbug cases leads to corners being cut.

The superbugs just wait in the wings, ready to reassert their dominance and hence the numbers of cases start to creep back up. It could be something as simple as one member of staff forgetting to wash their hands properly, does this constitute medical negligence? The answer is, possibly, yes. For medical negligence to be proven, it has to be shown that the person responsible has acted below the standards that would be generally deemed acceptable for a clinician of equivalent training and experience to adhere to. The simple act of washing your hands or ensuring a ward is properly cleaned is now universally accepted as a basic standard of clinical practice. To allow these standards to slip is a breach of an accepted clinical standard and therefore negligent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Jerviss

Used Medical Laboratory Analyzers

2009-11-18T06:22:00.001-08:00

Used medical laboratory analyzers are cost saving options for any laboratory setting. These are economical and at the same time feature excellent functioning. Moreover, they come with attractive warranty options just as their new counterparts.

Laboratory Analyzers for Different Applications

Medical laboratory analyzers are indispensable in healthcare centers, hospitals, hospices and other medical facilities. They are used in clinical labs for determining the concentration of certain metabolites, proteins, electrolytes and drugs in body fluids such as plasma, serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. Each and every analyzer model is meant for a specific purpose. For the physicians to assess the health condition of the patients through proper analysis, today a wide variety of medical laboratory analyzers are available which may include DNA analyzers, chemistry analyzers, electrolyte analyzers, blood gas analyzers and hematology analyzers.

Reduce Overall Laboratory Costs with Used Equipment

When medical organizations cannot afford new and expensive medical equipment, they gradually switch over to used ones. Pre-owned or used equipment can be bought for half the amount you would spend on a new one. Laboratories requiring bulk amount of apparatuses for their research needs can highly benefit from the used ones. Compared to brand new products, used medical laboratory analyzers come with minimum startup costs. However, they have become the best choices for many healthcare organizations looking for reduced spending.

Choose Quality Assured Products from Reliable Suppliers

Used medical laboratory analyzers are now readily available with many retailers. It is important to spend some time to locate the right product. Reliable dealers offer completely tested products that maintain excellent quality. You can compare prices that different resellers offer and find the right dealer supplying equipment at discount prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Linder

Used Laboratory Coagulation Analyzers

2009-11-18T06:22:00.000-08:00

New laboratory products are rather expensive and a number of laboratories and research facilities might find it difficult to buy these. In such instances, used laboratory coagulation analyzers are ideal alternatives.

Laboratory coagulation analyzers are basically used for coagulation and fibrinolysis testing. They are designed for excellent analytical throughput. For this, most of these systems come with features such as automatic pipette, coagulation timer, plastic tray, thermal prep-block, video display unit and automatic calibration.

Earn Substantial Savings for Your Laboratories

Medical practitioners and medical professionals who want to keep the costs down normally prefer used laboratory coagulation analyzers. Pre-owned products can be bought for half the amount of new ones. This will help you save substantial amount of money and you can buy as many products for your laboratories, without any hesitation.

Equip Your Labs with Fine-tuned Products

Used laboratory coagulation analyzer you buy may not be that defective. Usually these are products sold after using them for a limited period. They are sold when the user or facility wants to invest in a new product with more advanced features. Such products therefore, need not be damaged or defective. On receiving these products, most of the distributors fine-tune them before offering them to the consumers.

Get Brand Name Products from Quality Distributors

There are many distributors offering used and refurbished lab equipment for medical facilities, laboratories and research organizations. They supply products at competitive prices for the convenience of small labs and hospices. Laboratory coagulation-analyzers from Instrumentation Laboratory, BBL, Medical Laboratory are in great demand in today's medical field.

Moreover, apart from cost-saving features, getting used coagulation analyzers for your lab means eliminating long procedures of delivery time and other hassles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Linder

Application Process For Nurses in Australia

2009-11-18T06:21:00.001-08:00

Nurses and Midwives are currently in high demand in Australia. There are excellent career opportunities whether you want to immigrate to Australia or just stay for a few years. Nursing and Midwifery are well paid professions, with extra allowances for shift work with an opportunity to earn more money.

The latest Australian Critical Skills List shows both occupations, will be processed ahead of other occupations. This allows visa Australia applicants to gain permanent residence without the need of sponsorship by an employer or State government. This offers more freedom of movement for workers between different employers. This is not possible via a work sponsored visa. We regularly assist Nurses applying for skilled visas to Australia.

Generally there are 3 key stages in the process.
1. Registering with the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council
2. Full application for permanent visa for Australia
3. Registration in the State/Territory of work

It is very important that each stage is completed correctly. New changes to the regulations now mean that all visa Australia applicants must complete each stage. Each candidate must complete a compulsory English language test. Nurses And Midwives generally obtain full permanent residence, professional registration and employment in Australia via the skilled visa application process.

Registering as a nurse to work in Australia for up to four years, can entitle your family members to also work and study in Australia. All applicants must be under the age of 45 years old, holding the relevant qualifications (equivalent to an Australian diploma level). Whether you have a high level of skills and experience or need to gain additional skills, there is a visa Australia to suit you. There are excellent career opportunities with permanent and temporary work available in Australia. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for a visa Australia to work as a nurse.

The Emigration Group will help every applicant to register with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) or the nurse regulatory body in the State or Territory in which you wish to work. The Emigration Group have a dedicated group of Consultants available to help and assist you on every step of your visa Australia application.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sachin_Desa

Purchasing Medical Equipment For the First Time

2009-11-18T06:21:00.000-08:00

Have you ever went to the doctor's office and he wrote you a prescription for medical equipment and or supplies and he tells you to take it to the nearest medical supply store to get it filled? Well, let's say you go to the medical supply store and hand the prescription to a sales person only to find out that it can't be filled because they need additional information.

How frustrating is that! You expect that your physician knows what he is talking about, besides, he's the one that's treating you right? Wrong!

Physicians are not in the business of practicing medical equipment and supplies, they are in the business of practicing medicine. Don't get it misunderstood, it's not to say that they don't know anything about medical equipment and supplies.

Medical doctors are in the field and study of medicine, not medical supplies. The medical equipment and supply industry can easily become a gray area once the doctor passes the ball us. Most companies specialize in a particular line of medical supplies,such as. wound care, ostomy care, bath equipment and so one. Some areas even overlap others. One of the main reasons why some companies choose to specialize in one area as oppose to another is because technologies and advancements of the industry change so rapidly until it would be virtually impossible for a small medical equipment company to keep abreast of the new happenings across every area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K_Sanders

New and Used Clinical Laboratory Instruments

2009-11-04T02:12:00.000-08:00

Suppliers of laboratory products offer a wide variety of new and used laboratory instruments from branded manufacturers. Lab equipment is indispensable in any laboratory setting. The products laboratories use vary depending on the research procedures they carry out including experiments, measurements or just gathering data.

New Clinical Laboratory Equipment for Guaranteed Functioning

Used and refurbished laboratory products are given a limited period of warranty. New products come with manufacturer warranty and insurance that ensures long term performance without complaints. Spare parts, accessories and consumables are also readily available with all brand new clinical lab instruments. For flawless functioning of the products you buy, some of the companies even offer post sales services. New clinical laboratory instruments feature latest technology which aids in better performance.

Keep Expenses within Your Budget with Used Products

New laboratory apparatuses can be very costly and might turn out to be unaffordable for mid size laboratories and research/scientific facilities. Buying used laboratory equipment would be an ideal alternative, if you wish to keep the laboratory expenditure within limits. You can purchase these pre-owned products at low prices. Most of them are available at the fraction of the cost of new equipment. It is, however, of prime importance that you buy clinical lab instruments from reliable dealers or distributors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Linder

Medical Tourism on the Rise

2009-11-04T02:11:00.001-08:00

As a real alternative to the high cost of healthcare in the United States, medical tourism is now gaining acceptance by patients who can not shoulder the burden at home any longer.

Traditionally medical tourism has been associated with elective procedures (procedures not seen as strictly necessary) such as cosmetic dental and plastic surgery. Destinations such as Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico have long catered to North American body worshippers in need of a nip or a tuck. Over the last few years however, non-elective procedures such as knee and hip replacements, obesity surgeries such as lap band, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, cardiac procedures and neurosurgery have rapidly been gaining ground and are soon expected to overtake seemingly "trivial" pursuits such as searching for the perfect smile.

So what is medical tourism and why does this catchy term seem to be popping up in the media so often these days? First off it may be helpful to define what medical tourism is not. It is not a vacation package sold to doctors, nor is it a pastime for folks who like to tour hospitals. It is also not strictly tourism per se, although many aspects of tourism are engaged to some degree or another.

Simply put, medical tourism can be defined as the act of traveling outside one's own area of residence for health care. This can take the form of a two hundred mile drive to your parent's birthplace, or it can mean flying half way around the globe to an exotic culture you know nothing about. For people without insurance or those needing medical procedures that insurance won't cover, medical tourism offers an attractive alternative to rising healthcare costs.

To close the gap and language barriers between the hospitals/doctors abroad and the US patient our service as patient facilitators will be helpful.

We continually monitor many different measures of quality. Our proven standards evaluate how well our hospitals and physicians follow national and international protocols as well as their involvement in medical research and continuing education. The personal interaction with our patients, follow ups and regular questionnaires helps us to provide you with the highest level of comfort and satisfaction.

The primary benefits for you to use our service are significantly lower costs for best practice care and immediate availability of procedures such as lap band, gastric sleeve, mini gastric bypass and full gastric bypass which usually have a long waiting list in the US and Canada. As an an additional incentive of these great benefits you also have the opportunity to visit a beautiful place and take a dream vacation in Cancun, Mexico. With our help and dedication it is easy to make this come true for you because at the core of our efforts to assist you we provide these services for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Maurus

Medical Tourism - 5 Tips For Picking the Right Hospital

2009-11-04T02:11:00.000-08:00

As medical costs skyrocket in the US, many people are turning to health care outside the country to save money. Unfortunately, if you have a problem or the job gets botched, you have no recourse. You can try suing the institution or the doctor, but this means you will have to return to the country for the court case. There is little to gain, as pain and suffering settlements are largely unknown outside the US. Your best bet is to avoid problems by doing research in advance.

So how do you pick the right hospital?

Tip #1 - Go to the hospitals website. Most hospitals list any International Accreditation if they have any. This is a great indicator. The Joint Commission International makes sure hospitals have state-of-the-art health care and technology along with advanced transportation and communications systems. JCI accredited hospitals health care standards, professionalism and quality of doctors are equivalent or superior to those you would find in the United States.

Tip #2 - Review the Doctors listed at the hospital. Most hospital website list the doctors they have on staff. They will present a short bio of the doctors including their specialties and Alma maters. They should also list their specialties. If you are unfamiliar with the schools or universities they attended, do a Google search. This can tell you a lot about the quality of their education.

Tip #3 - Do a Google Search on the Doctor. Often, you will get no further information. Sometimes you will find complaints have been logged. Read through any complaints and see if they have been resolved. This is also a good way to find additional information about the doctor or hospital because blogs or message boards that list problems, will often have rebuttals or other recommendations.

Tip #4 - Find medical tourism review sites - Do a Google search for medical tourism reviews. This will often lead to blogs or review sites that have a wealth of information. You may find information that leads you to a better deal or at the very least confirms your choice. If you see a review, try using the Instant Message function found on most review boards to get in touch the with reviewer. Most people are anxious to tell you if they found the best deal going or if they had a bad time.

Tip #5 - Call the hospital and the doctor who will be doing your procedure. Prepare a list of questions that you want answered. If they don't have the time to talk to you or don't speak your language, you may want to find another doctor or hospital. If you don't feel comfortable speaking to them over the phone, you probably wont feel secure when you get to the hospital in person.

Medical tourism is the rage for elective surgeries like plastic surgery. Many people have had procedures done for a fraction of what they would have paid at home, but there are just as many horror stories. Doing your homework in advance can save you a lifetime of suffering.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Berger

Maximum Health Savings Account Limits 2010

2009-11-04T02:10:00.000-08:00

HSA or Health Savings Account type plans are the least expensive major medical plans available. Get affordable catastrophic coverage that you can afford.

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the maximum contributions that people insured under a Health Savings Account (HSA) plan can make. The maximum amounts will increase, and the minimum deductible amounts will also increase.

The maximum contribution that can be made to an HSA (the Health Savings Account that you have at a bank) in 2010 for insured individuals with single coverage will be $3,050, up from $3,000 in 2009. For those who have insured under a family plan, the maximum contribution will rise to $6,150 from $5,950.

New Maximum Deductible Limits
Many people will be happy to hear that the maximum deductibles will rise to $5,950 for single insured individuals up from $5,800 this year. For a family, the maximum deductible will be $11,900 up from $11,600 in 2009.

New Minimum Deductible Limits
The minimum deductible of the high deductible health plan will increase to $1,200 for single coverage and $2,400 for family coverage. In 2009, the current minimum deductibles are $1,150 for single coverage and $2,300 for family coverage.

How Health Savings Account Type Plans Work
Without a doubt, high deductible health plan, linked with the Health Savings Account, is the least expensive way to purchase major medical coverage. The savings are in the order of almost 50%.

How can this be?
First, the high deductible health plan is less expensive, but secondly, you get to contribute money to your own health savings account. The health savings account is a special type of account you can open up at your local bank. It is very similar to an IRA with which you may be familiar. The contribution to your HSA or health savings account is not taxed. It is exempt from Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, and FICA. Your money goes twice as far when it is not taxed.

Spend Your Tax Free Savings Money
You can use your savings money to pay your dentist, your acupuncturist, your chiropractor, your eye doctor, your doctor, your prescription drugs and over-the-counter cough medicines. You can spend your health savings account money on just about any medically related expense.

Here is an example
How does the HSA type plan work? Let's take an example. Perhaps you wake up one morning and you have a fever and a pain in your right side. You go to the doctor. The doctor checks your symptoms and he decides to send you to the hospital. He suspects that you have appendicitis. You have your appendix removed.

Your Out-Of-Pocket Costs
What are your out-of-pocket costs? (Let's assume that this example takes place in 2010. Doctors have negotiated a consultation rate with your insurance company. He is required to charge no more than that agreed amount. Usually, this is $65 to $70 for the visit. You write him a check which draws on your HSA account that you have opened at your local bank, and pay him.

You go to the hospital and they admit you. The operation costs $30,000. You are responsible for your deductible, which in this scenario is the maximum amount of $5,950. This may sound like a very high deductible to have to pay, but it is actually in line with what you would have had to pay if you had a traditional copay plan. After you have met your deductible of $5,950, the insurance company must cover all additional medical expenses for you through the year.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Day

Reasons to Consider Travel Nursing

2009-10-21T23:03:00.002-07:00

With the nursing shortage deepening, health care facilities nationwide are scrambling to fill vacancies. Many are turning to travel nursing companies for help-and that could make you a hot property. You know what you have to offer in travel nursing; maybe you're wondering what travel nursing has to offer you. Here are just a few reasons to consider becoming a travel nurse.

No matter where you work, he says, you'll be exposed to different ways of looking at nursing practice and you'll acquire new skills and knowledge that will put some muscle into your curriculum vitae. That'll help to make you an attractive candidate for prospective employers if you eventually decide to put down more permanent roots again.
As a travel nurse, you'll have access to a variety of assignments around the country, from small rural hospitals with only a few beds, where you'll be a jack-of-all-trades, to large urban teaching centers, where you can specialize in the nursing area of your choice. Each experience helps you grow as a nurse: At one hospital, for example, you could be learning the latest technique in negative-pressure wound therapy; at another, you could be mentoring staff nurses unfamiliar with this technique.

There's no question that travel nursing will test your mettle and help you grow, both personally and professionally. With just a few days' orientation at each assignment, you'll draw on the confidence you have in your nursing skills and adapt quickly and efficiently to new situations in your new environment. You'll challenge your perceptions and open yourself to new experiences. And along the way, you'll make memories that you'd never have if you'd stayed at home.

There's no question that travel nursing will test your mettle and help you grow, both personally and professionally. With just a few days' orientation at each assignment, you'll draw on the confidence you have in your nursing skills and adapt quickly and efficiently to new situations in your new environment. You'll challenge your perceptions and open yourself to new experiences.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pratheeban_Paramalingam

Do We Really Have an Answer For Healthcare Reform?

2009-10-21T23:03:00.001-07:00

We keep discussing health care reform but it appears that the more we talk, the more we are unable to understand the benefits. Although we have made it very complicated and potentially very expensive, we really haven't come up with solutions that are superior to what we have, or to what other countries have. Other countries have nationalized health care. Everyone is covered, no one pays for care, and there are no private primary care insurance carriers. Many believe this is good, but many others believe it lacks quality, expediency, and promotes rationing. The plans now being proposed in the U.S. Congress are not nationalized health care, but are supposed to be a combination of government sponsored coverage and private insurance coverage for all Americans at lower costs. Unfortunately, none of the plans proposed come close to providing lower costs with quality care. Why can't we figure out a solution that would improve what we have today?

One of the reasons is that we continue to focus on insurance reform and seem to totally disregard reducing the costs of providing health care. When we do talk about reducing costs we talk about reducing Medicare by $500 billion and reducing physician reimbursements. This is crazy and would probably do as much destruction as anything that's been discussed yet. Seniors who have spent a lifetime paying Social Security and taxes to insure they would have good health care coverage when they became 65 years old, would rebel if we now reduce benefits to accommodate 15% of the population that does not have coverage. And although government is quick to respond that the $500 billion will come from reducing fraud and mismanagement in Medicare/Medicaid, the reality is, they haven't been able to do it in the past and they won't be able to do it in the future. Reducing reimbursements to physicians would only complicate the problem of not having a sufficient number of doctors to accommodate patients. The addition of a potential 50 million new patients would severely strain the availability of physicians and probably result in rationing and significant consultation delays. Complicating the issue further is some polls have indicated that as many as 45% of the current physicians would choose to retire if this reform were adopted. So what do we do?

We must first focus on reducing the cost of health care:

1. We must regulate the cost of care being careful to allow physicians to establish procedures and government to assign reimbursements based upon the historical information documented at Medicare, VA Hospitals, and other government institutions, while comparing data from private facilities, allowing us to establish standard costs for all procedures, drugs, supplies, tests, etc. Once we have established fixed costs we will have the opportunity to stabilize reimbursements and procedures. This will also eliminate public hospital systems from earning substantial profits for their shareholders at the cost of their patients. It will also reduce the unnecessary expansions of non-profit hospital systems that continue to expand by acquiring additional hospitals and medical facilities. Lastly, all insurance providers would be required to adhere to these reimbursement and procedure standards, allowing policy holders, not shareholders, to take advantage of reduced costs. United Healthcare (publicly owned insurance company) earned more than $3 billion in 2008, while Community Health System (public owned hospital system) earned $218 million in 2008, and the Cleveland Clinic (non profit hospital system) expanded by recently acquiring hospitals in Medina, Ohio; Dubai, UAE; and a cancer center in Las Vegas, Nevada. If we simply look at these three organizations as examples, we can understand that the actual cost of care is far less than the price charged. If we would regulate costs for hospitals and insurance providers, health care would become much more affordable and we would achieve significant savings.

2. We must adopt tort reform as a prerequisite to reducing costs. The savings which can be realized by reducing unrestricted awards for health care related litigation can be in the billions of dollars. Today many surgeons pay liability insurance premiums in excess of $200,000 per year. Doctors must be paid extremely high incomes in order to cover these premiums. If you reduce the amount of unwarranted settlements and reduce the insurance premiums physicians and medical facilities are required to pay, the result would be lower reimbursements to both physicians and medical facilities. Once again we achieve significant savings.

3. We must reduce the loss of revenues in Medicare/Medicaid from fraud and mismanagement. These losses are estimated at more than a trillion dollars. Reform legislation being considered suggests we can cut these losses by $500 billion, however there are no specific methods outlined to achieve these cuts. Most Americans believe these cuts will come from reducing services more than fixing fraud and mismanagement. I would propose hiring independent audit groups which derive their compensation by identifying and recovering lost revenue and then retaining a small portion of the revenues identified as their compensation. These activities have been very successful for business when auditing freight and utilities invoices. We would take this major problem out of the hands of government and put it into the hands of capitalists who make a living from recovering over-billed invoices. We would again achieve significant savings.

4. We must implement health reform, generally referred to today as wellness. The US has been compared to other countries who have nationalized health programs and in some cases their citizens are considered in better health, suggesting that are health care in the US is inferior. I don't think there is any question that health care in this country far surpasses any other country, unfortunately our health habits do not. We eat too much and exercise too little. Our diets are heavy with fats and carbohydrates. We do not get the proper rest and relaxation. We need a program that focuses on developing better personal health habits and then provides incentives to achieve these goals. The result would be healthier individuals requiring less health care resulting in lower health care costs.

The above programs would reduce healthcare costs and would cost a small percentage of what we are currently considering. Let's review: 1) regulate health care cost with insurance providers and medical facilities, 2) adopt torte reform, 3) fix Medicare/Medicaid, 4) implement wellness programs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Patti

Generation X and Healthcare

2009-10-21T23:03:00.000-07:00

Generation X faces many challenges, but chief among them is dealing with ongoing healthcare concerns. From a decline in doctors due to Baby Boomers retiring, to changes in healthcare legislation and healthcare reforms, members of Generation X should pay close attention to healthcare plans and the state of the healthcare industry.

Less doctors, more demand

As Baby Boomers retire, the number of physicians in the country is declining. This is partially due to the population in general; there are 77 million Baby Boomers, compared with 46 million Generation X-ers; and partially due to the fact that many Generation X physicians are choosing to specialize instead of working in a general practice. As a result, many states face a shortage of primary care physicians and general practitioners, which causes delays in treatment while new patients wait for primary care physicians.

Because of this challenge in finding a primary care physician, Generation X members need to plan ahead. Generation X and healthcare challenges require that Gen X members choose a primary care physician immediately upon relocating or switching healthcare plans, or run the risk of being without a physician when illness strikes.

Rising costs

Generation X members need to be very discerning with healthcare plans, due to rising healthcare costs and the potential challenge of finding a healthcare plan to pay for certain services. As more and more services become available, healthcare plans decline to pay for everything from Lasik eye surgery to elective mental health services.

Because of this disparity between services available and services covered, Generation X members need to shop carefully for health care plans. Challenges faced in Generation X and healthcare include finding a plan that covers the services that the Generation X member needs, and deciding when to compromise and when to keep shopping for a healthcare plan that covers specific services.

Legislature affecting Generation X and healthcare

Healthcare reform is a watchword for every political party in every election, and Gen X members need to be especially mindful of healthcare reform as it relates to Generation X and healthcare concerns. Universal healthcare is one possibility that Generation X members face, and whether that would be an asset or a tragedy depends on who you ask.

Members concerned about Generation X and healthcare should write local and state officials to discuss legislature around improving access, decreasing cost, and expanding the array of health care professionals available for services. Without feedback and input from people active with Generation X and healthcare, officials won't push for better coverage and expanded health networks. If Generation X members don't advocate for themselves, they could face a shortage of providers and an array of healthcare plans that don't cover services the Generation X-ers need.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dachary_Carey

Angiography Solutions

2009-10-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

Angiography or arteriography is referred to process of medical imaging technique used to visualize the interior organs of the body. Particular interest is given to the arteries, veins and the heart chambers during any angiography.

The process of angiography can be divided into many types like xray study blood vessels, cerebral angiography, coronary angiography, pulmonary angiography, kidney angiography as per the patients' requirement.

Coronary angiography is one of most common angiography. It is performed to visualize the blood in the coronary arteries. In this type of angiography a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is used to administer the x-ray contrast agent at the desired area. It is then threaded into an artery in the groin or forearm. The tip is then advanced through the arterial system into one of our bodies' two major coronary arteries.

An expert on the procedure of angiography can visualize x-ray images of the transient radiocontrast distribution within the blood. He /she can thus determine the size of the artery openings.

Cerebral angiography is usually used to detect most vascular abnormalities of the brain like arteriovenous malformations and aneurysms. Some doctors also perform cerebral angiography is required to confirm brain death.

Similarly, pulmonary angiography refers to an x-ray study of blood vessels that is supplied to the lungs. It is generally used to find a blood clot) in these blood vessels.

Kidney angiography also known as renal angiography, on the other hand refers to a process where an expert look at the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. Kidney angiography is usually done to evaluate blood flow to the kidneys, detect any blockages/narrowing in the kidney arteries, determine the severity of the blockage for proper diagnosis, identify a possible cause for high blood pressure and last but not the least, identify a possible cause for poor kidney function.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_Daniel

Get a Plan - Get Affordable Health Care

2009-10-05T06:37:00.001-07:00

How would you feel if I tell you that nine million children in the United States of America do not have access to quality affordable health care, for which their parents wouldn't have to shell out a fortune? It sounds terrible, I agree. This number and more like this are probably what prompted the government to gun for a health care bill.

It is a worldwide phenomenon. The wages and salaries of people across the world may be increasing or decreasing, but it is quite certain that medical bills are not what they used to be some time ago. And more and more people are falling ill, thanks to fast lives and sedentary lifestyles. Affordable health care seems to belong to the past.

Paying monthly bills is a task, probably for which you set dates and timers. On top of that, there may be the car insurance, home insurance, home loan, taxes and so on. But, you cannot afford to ignore the most important thing of all - your body. Is it insured? What about your family? If an unforeseen illness affects you or some member of the family, will you be capable of paying the bills without a problem? This is one of the reasons why in the modern world, you cannot live without a medical insurance.

However, it is an area where you have to tread with caution. There are enough policies from so many companies to confuse you. You have to choose which one to take after checking out the various conditions they have or require. Apart from the monthly or annual premium, you should also decide based on the deductibles, co-payments and other such conditions.

In some cases, if you join for a medical plan alone and later you want to add members of your family to it, the company may not allow you to. Make sure you go for a policy where your family members can be added later too, so that the cover extends to them too.

The importance of an affordable health care plan surfaces when you may have to run from pillar to post to find money to pay your bills. The worry of paying your bills should not make you choose a center which is poorly-staffed or has quality problems in treatment. While paying a premium every month may seem tough, it is better that you go for an insurance policy which will pay your bills when you least expect illness to strike.

Many companies have a list of hospitals where you can seek treatment. If you go to these hospitals, you may have to make only part payment of the bill and the rest will be taken care of by the insurance company. And, if you decide to go to a center that is outside the purview of the insurance company, you may have to request for a reimbursement for the bills you paid. When you are facing a cash crunch, it is better you rush to a hospital where you may have to shell out less.

Affordable health care is not available anymore. But what is available are means to make health care affordable to you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lester_Zane

Electronic Medical Records - A Critical Factor For Implementation Success

2009-10-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

There's no question that an electronic medical record system can improve your practice's efficiency and productivity. However, without full buy-in from everyone on your staff, you'll never achieve the performance results you anticipate.

It's one thing to know that you need staff buy-in, it's another thing entirely to know how to get it. Here are the steps to take to get participation, cooperation and collaboration from staff members at all levels, and increase your chances for a more rapidly successful electronic medical record implementation.

Convey The Urgent Need For Change

Making a major change in your medical practice is hard enough. Trying to make that change when people don't recognize the need for it is a recipe for failure.

Everyone in your practice needs to understand the factors that make the new electronic medical record system desirable or even essential - for example: the ability to streamline work and enhance patient care, the opportunity to reduce costs and increase productivity, and the ability to adapt to changes in patient needs, 3rd party demands and new government requirements.

However, while you may make a great logical case for change, people don't make decisions based on logic alone. Emotions are a powerful factor. You need to make sure that your staff not only understands the logical reasons for implementing the electronic medical records system, but also understands what the consequences will be to them personally if the implementation isn't successful.

When you present the new electronic medical records system as a way for the practice to continue to operate profitably - despite challenges, to continue to provide quality care to your patients, and to continue to provide your valued staff with employment, you're likely to capture their attention.

Keep People Informed

People don't really fear change. What triggers fear is uncertainty.

The worst thing you can do is to keep people in the dark about your plans. This encourages rumors and leads people to start grumbling about their jobs and worrying about their futures.

When it comes to implementing an electronic medical record system in the practice, one of the biggest concerns people have is whether the new technology will take away their jobs.

In light of today's economic realities, no one really expects guarantees of job security. However, what they can and should expect are honest answers to tough questions.

People will want to know:

* How the electronic medical record system will impact their work and their futures
* What new expectations you and the practice have of them
* What new skills they will need to meet these expectations
* How they will be trained and supported for these new challenges
* How their performance will be assessed

The fact is, the new electronic medical record system will make some tasks unnecessary, and some skills irrelevant. However it's important for you to recognize, and to communicate to everyone, that when work gets reorganized, and when certain tasks are no longer necessary, people can be moved to more profitable activities. For example, if implementing the new electronic medical record system will allow you to increase your patient load, you may need staff to shift to more patient-centered activities in order to take advantage of these new opportunities.

Harness the Power of Collaboration

Regardless how large your practice is, a new IT system will impact the work of staff members at all levels. To get the maximum value from that system, and to increase the speed of getting to that value, you need discretionary effort and enthusiastic collaboration from everyone in your practice.

First, when it comes to designing the system and reengineeringing the workflow, you must get your staff's perspective. They are closest to much of the work of the practice and can offer suggestions and ideas that can facilitate implementation and reduce the expenses and the temporary productivity slow-downs that inevitably accompany any new electronic medical record system implementation.

Second, if you want to mobilize people to not only cooperate, but to give their best effort, you need to allow them to participate in developing plans. You may have heard the expression,"People who plan the battle, rarely battle the plan." If staff members at all levels are involved with the development of the implementation strategy, they will have a vested interest in its success.

The way to do that is through a series of interactive workshop-style staff meetings that elicit staff ideas and engage staff members in creating their own future.

Show People What's In It For Them

The real secret of successful change management is to show people what's in it for them. You can accomplish this in two ways.

First, by showing how the electronic medical record system will positively impact people's work and enhance their job satisfaction. For example, once implemented, will the system eliminate the frustration of lost charts and information? Reduce tedious tasks? Improve documentation and coding accuracy? Allow staff to get home earlier?

The second way to show people what's in it for them is to attach rewards and recognition to specific goals and milestones. Offering team bonuses for increased practice productivity, increased referrals and increased patient satisfaction can be very effective in building a cooperative environment. However, it can take a while to get to significant performance increases.

Establishing intermediate milestones, "small wins" - like getting a specific system module successfully up and running, or achieving a certain reduction in transcription usage - can go a long way to building momentum and can help to convert any lingering skeptics.

These kind of rewards and recognition are tangible pay-offs that fuel the fire of motivation.

Jane S. Adler, MD is founder and president of NeoVista Health Strategies, a provider of resources and information for higher performance in healthcare. She is a co-creator of The Road to Excellence System™ for maximizing staff performance and productivity in clinical practices, and author of How to Position Your Clinical Practice for Outstanding Success and A Profitable Practice is Everyone's Business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Jane_Adler

EHRs Uninstalled - A Glimpse Into the Future?

2009-10-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

The HIECH Stimulus Act is part of President Obama's plan for full, nation-wide use of EMRs by 2014. The act promotes Electronic Medical Record (EMR) adoption by allocating funds to reimburse physicians for purchasing and using a qualified EMR system. In addition, physicians who fail to adopt an EMR will eventually face Medicare reimbursement penalties. Although the goal is lofty, Obama hopes the act's carrot and stick approach will encourage physicians to adopt EMRs.

However, a recent report by HealthLeaders-InterStudy indicates that Phoenix, Arizona is experiencing a high rate of Electronic Health Records (EHR) uninstalls. According to the report, the trend is due to training, functionality, or affordability issues. Both top-level hospitals and smaller providers struggle with the financial constraints of purchasing and implementing EHR systems. Arizona rapidly adopted EMR systems due to a 2005 executive order by Governor Janet Napolitano, which required that all healthcare providers install an EHR by 2010.

Does this uninstallation trend provide us a glimpse into the future? Will the U.S. share Arizona's experience at the national level? Arizona's executive order is similar to the HITECH stimulus act because both seek to rapidly drive EMR adoption to meet an arbitrary deadline. In both cases, physicians feel pressured to make a very important and potentially very expensive decision. Although EMRs provide many benefits, selecting the wrong system, or rushing the implementation process could lead to many problems. It seems that Arizona physicians are scrambling to remove unusable systems due to poor selection or botched implementations.

This does not necessarily mean the HITECH Act will fail. Rather, it means that physicians need to be careful and not rush into a decision they may regret. EMR system prices can reach $100,000 or more. In contrast, the stimulus act will only pay about $44,000 in reimbursements. Physicians should focus on their needs, not wants or superfluous features, and select the simplest system that fulfills their requirements. Simple systems are easy to install, easy to learn, and easy to use. Ease of use is critical; complex and difficult systems can lead to spiraling maintenance and training costs, and may ultimately be discarded.

The uninstallation trend in Arizona is a clear warning. Although well-intentioned, the HITECH Stimulus Act may encourage physicians to rashly purchase a system that will not work well in the long run. Physicians must resist the temptation throw in a system just to qualify for reimbursement payments. Instead, they should take their time to find a simple, user-friendly system that meets their needs. After all, $44,000 sounds like a lot of money, but it will probably not cover the more expensive EMR systems with monthly maintenance fees.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Ricks

Why Should You Go For Medical Imaging Equipment Financing?

2009-09-25T02:40:00.001-07:00

Imaging is one of the most important aspects of medical diagnosis today. Consequently, it is no wonder that this field, among the many in the field of medicine and surgery, has benefited immensely from the latest developments in the world of technology-more specifically, digital technology. At the same time, medical imaging equipment is a very expensive proposition, which is nonetheless necessary to run a good medical practice. For many practitioners, imaging equipment financing and leasing are increasingly becoming attractive options, as the best way to stay ahead of the market without having to buy all the equipment.

In this day of high technology, has moved far beyond the good old x-ray and CT scan. It is now possible to procure many kinds of equipment on a lease basis-from endoscopes to sonograms, to ultrasound equipment and x-ray film processing. And what's even better, there are a number of renowned finance companies that make medical imaging equipment financing their core business.

Four Things to Consider

Purchasing medical imaging equipment supplies can be a tricky task. Since these materials are very expensive, one needs to be pretty clear about specific needs so that they don't end up ordering more than what you need. For a pro, this will obviously feel like an easy job, but for someone who is just starting off, there will be a number of things that he must be careful about.

For a start, find out about prices for the supplies in the market. There are a number of suppliers that can cater to your needs, and you will need to carry out a thorough market survey regarding prices. Many suppliers also provide attractive discounts, so keep your eyes open.

After price one must look at the criterion of quality. While getting a good deal is important, it will all be quite worthless if you were landed with a load of sub-standard supplies. So, before you make your own purchases, it would b advisable to ask around a little regarding the quality of the material of different suppliers. Since you are in the medical business, quality is all-important.

The next issue is to ensure the credibility of your prospective supplier. There are a number of vendors who provide poor quality equipment and supplies, and you need to be wary of them. When evaluating a supplier, also take into account other factors like the kind of service he will provide, and the general spread of his catalog. Also, keep an eye on your future requirements, since you would like to develop a long-term relationship with your supplier.

Finally, look at finance options available in the market. There are a number of credit and finance companies that deal specifically with the requirements of the medical imaging industry, and are willing to provide finance options on soft terms. Given the price of imaging equipment today, it is best to lease and finance, rather than buy equipment. Most of the reputed healthcare clinics around the country look at finance as their best option.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Mark_Fletcher

Death by Doctor

2009-09-25T02:40:00.000-07:00

I ran into an acquaintance at a conference the other day. We got to talking about vitamins. (Somehow I always end up talking about vitamins; I could bore a stone.)

Doctors recently installed her second pacemaker. She said her ejection fraction-the force with which her heart pumps blood-was ten. Normal is fifty and north; zero is dead.

Lunch came with the conference, and she wondered if she dared eat anything since the doctor told her to avoid salt.

During lunch she mentioned the doctor wanted her cholesterol to go lower. What was it? 170. Containing myself in the face of outrage took more than I had that day. I blurted out that her cholesterol was already too low, and she'd be better off at 200 or so. I started talking about the problems of low cholesterol, but, though I spoke in a low-key, casual way, the conversation seemed to make her tense. I backed off.

So I'll tell you what I wanted to tell her.

First of all, sodium, salt, is an electrolyte. If you noticed a similarity to electricity in that word, you got it right. Electrolytes work like spark plugs to keep things going. The heart being one of those things.

But medical schools teach doctors to hate salt. Blood pressure a notch above medicine's preferred, artificially low standard results in orders to avoid salt. Which is bunk.

High blood pressure comes from a lack of potassium, another electrolyte, not an overabundance of salt. Potassium and sodium play off each other, and balancing them is critical. Back in the day, doctors used potassium to lower blood pressure. Worked great!

Potassium supplements are a joke, though. Your government in action read somebody's tea leaves years ago and set a maximum of 99mg per potassium pill. Since our bodies need something like 3000mg just to maintain the status quo, and more if there's a problem, it is to laugh. While crying.

However, salt substitutes contain potassium chloride, and your local grocery store will be more than happy to sell you some. Don't, however, use energy drinks for their potassium; in addition to potassium they have high fructose corn syrup and bromine, two very bad actors.

The beauty of getting extra potassium while not reducing salt is the support you give to your electrolytes which, as I said, keep things going.

Do switch to sea salt, though. Unlike processed-to-death table salt, it's loaded with the trace minerals we need.

Secondly, the doctor had the lady on a statin drug to lower her already-too-low cholesterol. Many, many problems with this scenario.

The pharmaceutical companies never tested statin drugs on women, but the FDA approved them anyway. Women got to be guinea pigs-even without signing informed consent papers.

Statin drugs do more harm than good even to men, and they don't do any good at all to women. Women get all side effects, but no benefits. Lots of studies say so, but the statin bandwagon only picks up steam.

Statin drugs damage your liver. You could protect your liver by taking CoQ10, but doctors rarely mention nutritional supplements. Statins can also destroy your muscles. Read the paper that comes with the prescription. It says statins can do a very big and serious number on you.

And the paper doesn't even mention that statins contradict our body's need for cholesterol. The brain relies on healthy cholesterol levels, as does the endocrine system-thyroid, adrenals, etc. We can't produce sex hormones without cholesterol. To sum up then, we can't think, our metabolism slows down, we have no energy and our libido dies without cholesterol. Could doctors scare anybody into taking statins if patients knew about that scenario?

There's more. Cholesterol below 150 writes an engraved invitation to cancer, but doesn't possess any way to fight it.

My friend believes in her doctor, but he's killing her. By following medical guidelines. And these guidelines will be come law if socialized medicine wins the day. We live in perilous times.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bette_Dowdell

Chiropractor And Physiotherapist Differences

2009-09-25T02:39:00.000-07:00

Because Chiropractors and Physiotherapists both work with patients to improve the patient's ability to move and function many people get the two professionals confused. The truth is that the two fields are not the same at all. The skill set a Chiropractor must develop is not the same skill set that a Physiotherapist must have though there are a few similarities. Here are some of the differences between Chiropractors and Physiotherapists.

Educational Requirements

Physiotherapists are required to complete at least four years of undergraduate school as well as a two year masters program. Physiotherapists must also be trained in quite a few different types of physical therapy in order to obtain a license and practice professionally. A Physiotherapists license is required to be renewed regularly for as long as they want to continue practicing. This renewal requirement ensures that Physiotherapists keep their techniques and research up to date.

Chiropractors are required to complete at least four years of school though schooling usually involves five to seven years of class and field work in the United Kingdom before a professional license can be obtained. Chiropractors, like Physiologists are also required to keep their licenses current in order legally practice chiropractics without supervision.

Relieving Pain

Chiropractors work to relieve their patients' pain by using a number of pain relief therapies. These techniques can either be taught to the patient to do at home or therapies that will require the patient to continue visiting the Chiropractor in order to maintain his alignment and stay pain free.

A Physiotherapist offers his patients through a variety of methods. These methods aim to increase the patient's range of motion. Treatment offered by a Physiotherapist can involve teaching the patient how to do a variety of exercises and stretches so that the patient can continue his or her treatment at home. As the patient's pain subsides and his or her range of motion improves, the visits required become fewer and farther between until the patient is pronounced healthy enough to no longer need physiotherapy.

System of Beliefs

A Chiropractor believes that everything can be related to the spine. Problems with the respitory system or endocrine system, in a Chiropractor's mind, are problems that can be corrected with proper alignment of the spine.

Physiologists do not centre their beliefs on a single part of the body though they do spend quite a bit of time focusing on the spine. Physiologists devote their time to treating a specific injury and helping a patient heal while doing their best to reduce the patient's pain.

The truth is that there are quite a few similarities between the two. Both work with the spine. The differences lie in how an illness is addressed. Physiotherapy ends at some point. Chiropractic care is ongoing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Benalla

A New Look at Health Savings Accounts

2009-09-17T04:35:00.002-07:00

With the debate raging over health care reform, there is little give and take on both sides of the issue. Those for a strong single payer or government insurance option are pitted against those who want the free market and private insurance companies to compete with little government interference. There is a topic where both sides may be able to find a compromise. Health Savings Accounts, also known as HSA's, are looked at favorably by most Americans. With a little bit of tweaking there may be a place to use these to offset many of our contentions. Let's take a look at a method worth considering.

First, let us assume that we are going to need to get radical transformation on our current health care system done. Also, let us assume that we can get a public option which would cover catastrophic medical emergencies for every American citizen. This would appease the left leaning government proponents. Now before the right side begins crying foul, we can also give their methods a part. In particular, we can have a mandated has for every American. We could require this as a payroll deduction itemized on all tax forms. However, it is not just another tax. This money can be used specifically for each person to get regular medical care not covered by the catastrophic protection. There can be a minimum and a cap established for each of these based on a person's age and area. It would likely require a consensus of actuarial accounting to come up with a national number. Once a person has given enough then the deduction would be abolished for that year.

This would serve as money in an account for that specific person. It would not be a pool as used by Medicare. If there is a need to go above what a person has in the account, then the government or private institutions could be solicited as lenders with the account as collateral for moderate interest loans. For those who could not afford to fund theirs, then there would need to be a government subsidy to supply. This would not be unlike what we have today with insurance rates climbing though to pay off uninsured who use medical services. Rates for insurance would be lowered and the absorbed savings would be able to fund this program.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Sherrell

Make the Most of the Affordable Health Care Options Available

2009-09-17T04:35:00.001-07:00

Affordable Health care options are not many in the United States of America. Nearly half the population is staggering under the load of financial problems resulting from unpaid bills. Recession has taken its toll and with unemployment on the increase, the "quiet crisis" that is spreading across the nation is creating undue stress and havoc. The government is striving hard to take measures to introduce affordable health care options for the benefit of the average person and the medically unfit.

What are the healthcare options available today? Each state has set up several healthcare measures for its citizens. One has to study the options and make the best use of the choices and put them to good use. Some States insist that major companies pay more premium rates, so that they can take care of employees, who are not covered under the insurance policies. Individuals could also consider treatment outside the U.S.A as a highly option and save a considerable amount of money. The main expense when using this alternative is the travel expense. Excellent affordable healthcare facilities are available in other countries at less than half the cost.

For those who prefer to use the healthcare services in their own State, they can pay a monthly fee and use the Medical Savings Plan or the Medical Discount Plan. The important factor to remember is that these plans are in no way connected to insurance policies. These affordable healthcare options are open to people suffering from any ailment and age. They can visit doctors and dentists, have a few tests conducted and get prescriptions for drugs required for their treatment. There is also an affordable healthcare service called The Medicare prescription drug benefit, where you can purchase affordable healthcare medicines from their centers.

Your family is precious to you. Therefore, one sure method of protecting their interests is to look for healthcare insurance policies that cover all medical emergencies and accidents for you and the members in your family. Look at all the numerous options and choose the one that fits in your budget. The medical costs are soaring these days due to non-availability of good hospital care, nursing care and specialized doctors. The rate of deaths occurring due to mal-functions, in one way or the other, is devastating. Protect yourself and your family by using the best healthcare mantle.

It is distressing to note that a vast majority of the population, including children, are not protected under any scheme. The Government is now waking up to the fact that they have to introduce stringent affordable healthcare measures soon to prevent a major catastrophe. Some States have made it mandatory for everyone to take out an insurance policy. Unless some new healthcare services spring up soon, the chances of major repercussions are imminent and to this end, the citizens should all co-operative and urge the Government to take some serious affordable healthcare action immediately.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lester_Zane

Are We Talking About "Health Care" Reform, Or "Sickness Care" Reform?

2009-09-17T04:35:00.000-07:00

All the talk about "Health Care Reform" has certainly ignited a fire in countless Americans! Every national news and talk radio show is focused on this hot button topic recently.

The economic crisis is clearly the catalyst for the proposed sweeping changes in national "health" care. Scarce funds and resources, as well as a pending economic "collapse" (as some describe) are forcing us to consider how to manage health care in tough times... and in extreme circumstances.

We're hearing terms like "rationed health care", "socialized medicine", "universal insurance" and the "value of human life". It's no wonder this subject has sparked such heated dialogue.

Spending the first 23 years of my life in "socialist" Canada, and still spending much time and energy in their medical system with both of my parents, I may have a different perspective from the sensationalized one being portrayed in media.

I'm perfectly willing to admit that I don't understand all the politics and red tape involved. I simply have a memory of how things really played out in that system and countless experiences to call upon.

Growing up, I quite clearly recall paying out of pocket for many doctor's and specialist's visits, treatments and procedures, and paying a partial "co-pay" for the remaining forms of care: physical therapy, surgery, prescriptions, etc. Not exactly the picture I continue to see painted on the news.

Studying and working within the field of health and wellness for the past 18 years, I know I have a different perspective. First, I wish we'd quit calling this "health care". The subject of this conversation is "sickness care". I know I can't change that, but it annoys me! Words are important.

I have no challenge with paying for - investing in - my own health. I will gladly invest in lifestyle choices that proactively build better health. Choices like: healthier foods, high quality nutritional supplements, pure water, exercise classes, equipment and tools, Chiropractic care, massage, less toxic personal care, household and lawn care products, and so on. I don't expect a hand out for any of these things... although it would sure be nice! It's just not realistic. My health and my family's health is my responsibility.

If we continue to talk about sickness care as though it will somehow provide us with health, we'll continue on our devastating trend of unparalleled rates of chronic illness in all age groups. We're confused.

What drug, surgery, insurance plan or federal program could ever fix a problem due to a lack of fresh, healthy, whole, untainted (genetically required) real foods? Or a problem due to sedentary living and lack of regular (genetically required) movement? Or a problem due to a lack of healthy emotions like love and joy? Or a problem due to toxic thoughts and emotions like fear, worry, hate and hopelessness?

Thinking that national "health care" is responsible for our health is irresponsible on our part. It's also foolish. Their paradigm is still the sickness paradigm. Why on earth would we expect them to deliver us health?

Do I think that we should have a system to help those in need achieve better health and receive sickness care when needed? Yes. But I sure would love to see the main focus of such a program be on "health"! I'm certain we'd spend FAR less on sickness care (and "health care" as a whole) if that were the case.

I'd also love to see the pharmaceutical industry focus on health rather than profits, and drugs only be used for life-saving endeavors... but I digress!

I'm blessed to live in a country with excellent sickness care options. In the case of emergency or trauma or life-saving procedures we have the best. In the case of "health care"... not so much! Sadly though, it's all there. Everything we need in order to create ideal health is right here at our fingertips. As a culture, we just keep overlooking it and choosing sickness care, expecting health as the outcome.

Our paradigm is inaccurate.

As individuals, imagine if we all began to proactively take steps to create better health. We would no longer play the role of passive by-stander or helpless victim in this game. That's where I think our focus needs to shift - why wait around to see what's decided FOR us? Regardless of whatever decisions are made by this current administration, we can certainly become healthier one by one, family by family. Isn't this the perfect, most necessary time to take responsibility for our own health and safety?

Science has clearly shown us that it's our lifestyle choices - how we eat, how we move, how we sleep, how we respond to stress - that directly determine our level of health, function, performance and our ability to prevent and reverse chronic illness. Getting healthier means making more pure and sufficient choices while simultaneously reducing toxic and deficient choices. No one can do this for us but US.

When we shift to this responsible, proactive and accurate belief about health care, THEN we will have a truly beneficial health care reform and a profound strengthening of our economy!

Are you confused by the overwhelming, often contradictory health information these days? Concerned that your family may not be as healthy as they could be? So you feel stressed out and exhausted... and just too darn tired to make positive, healthy lifestyle changes? I'm here to help! My name is Dr. Colleen Trombley, also known as Dr. Mom Online. I have a knack for simplifying Health and helping busy people restore balance to their lives.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Trombley

Healthcare Reform - Start by Reforming Yourself!

2009-09-17T04:34:00.000-07:00

Stop for a minute and think. What is health insurance? Really. Ideally, it's protection against the cost of being sick. That's what we're paying for. We spend millions of dollars insuring that if we get sick someone else will foot the bill.

Why don't we take care of ourselves? If you eat properly, drink enough water, get up off the couch, go outside, breathe fresh air, stop smoking, stop taking over the counter drugs, cook our own food, hug your family, and get a good night's sleep. Would you still need health insurance? Probably. But let's break this down a little more.

Eat properly, drink water and cook your own food. Sounds easy, right? Our bodies are complex machines that run on a specific but basic diet. Whole, balanced foods with fresh, natural ingredients. No processed food, no modified food starch, artificial ingredients, chemicals you can't spell or pronounce. What would happen if you put oil in your gasoline tank and gasoline in the oil tank? Your car would blow up! That's what we're doing to ourselves. If you continue to put the wrong fuel in your body - you get cancer, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure - all manner of fuel related diseases. Next time you go to the grocery store only buy foods on the perimeter. If it has an ingredient label - you don't need it. If you read the label (and it makes sense to you) has 5 ingredients that you can readily identify, okay. Other than that - warning! Red flag! Our bodies consist of more water than anything else - why would you replenish it with soda? Oh, you only drink diet soda? Oh, did I miss where chemical sugar is pure? Be informed. You'll lose weight, your skin will clear up, you'll be a regular bathroom visitor and you'll have more energy to cook your own food. Save money - eat at home.

Get up off that couch, go outside and do something! Do you remember in school when you first saw that picture in a text book of the human bodies muscular system? All those tendons, criss-crossing across your skeleton with those bug eyes. Scared me! Now conjure up that image again. Add 80 lbs, a beer gut, sagging, atrophied, muscles - all loose. That should scare you now. Raise your arms out to the side move them back and forth. What's that jiggle? That's what I thought - get outside! Bike, walk, garden, wash your car, hang the laundry out. Bet you sleep better too!

Smoking. Stop. Now. My husband is now a cancer survivor. Had he stopped smoking - he never would've gotten cancer. Sure health insurance saved us. But if he didn't smoke - it would be a moot point. Weeks of radiation, chemotherapy. Weeks in the hospital, pneumonia, coma, rehab. Stop smoking. You'll save money too. You might think, "it won't happen to me." Yeah, I thought that too. Three years later and we're still dealing with it. Take care of yourself.

We spend money on everything but our health. Taking care of your machine, your engine, your body should be paramount! Your body is a temple - you've heard that before, but what does your temple look like? Candy wrappers, cigarette butts, a video game system, a recliner, a TV-remote, dirty laundry and a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barb_Haas

Health Care Reforms and Medical Necessity Determination

2009-08-23T06:17:00.002-07:00

The United Sates of America is having the nastiest crisis of recession and down turn. The result is so awful that a record number of Americans received food stamps. The costs of entities have gone up and the joblessness is on its peak as five million US jobs have been lost. The disaster is affecting the nation on the whole. It has a psychological and physical impact on every single American. The significance of health care system can not be denied and there is an urgent need to bring reforms in health care.

There is a lot of talk about healthcare reforms, it is the buzz now a days. President Obama is zealous to bring a change, a revolution in healthcare. The bottom line is to bring reforms with innovation to lower down the cost, improve quality and coverage and protect consumer choice. The ultimate vision is to provide every single American with quality medical services.

It is no doubt that the medical errors are one of the most important factors that increases the cost of healthcare because it can create many other complexities to the existing problems. Medical error is an inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis or treatment of a disease which can harm the patient and it can risk his life. When unsuitable methods are used and the execution is inaccurately, it can take a life away which can be effectively prevented through the use of an EHR system.

President Obama is missing a part which is Medical necessity determination and is as important as medical errors. The "Obama strategy" is absolutely on the right track but the "tactics" are not complementing the strategy. Tactics the meat and bread of the strategy and the "doing aspect" is just not aligned with the strategy. The strategy is to bring reforms, promote scientific and technological advancement and lower down the cost by eliminating or reducing the medical errors whereas we need to add another factor to it of medical necessity determination. An altogether new E H R system with intelligence can turn it on.

President Obama's focal point is to invest in health information technology and advancement but by just spending the problem would not be solved. The currently existing E H R systems are not supportive and intelligent to grasp the necessity determination of a medical treatment. First there is a need to evolve the Electronic Health Record system and transform the system to intelligent system by injecting intelligence in it then it will be able to perform what is required.

With more than 15 years of experience and expertise, Manzoor Hasan MBA, MST, CPA, is CEO at e-Health Vision Inc. and a seasoned consultant in healthcare and other corporate entities. He has extensive expertise in medical management, physician recruitment and as a liaison in negotiations with hospitals, managed care organizations, group practices, HMOs and others.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manzoor_Hasan

Concierge Medicine - Is it For You?

2009-08-23T06:17:00.001-07:00

The last time you called your doctor's office, how long did you have to wait for a reply? How long do you usually have to wait to get an appointment or wait for a prescription to be called in? When you get to the office, how long do you spend in the waiting room and how much time does the doctor spend with you?

Did you get all your questions answered? How many seconds do you have in the beginning of your appointment to explain your symptoms before you are interrupted? Do the nurses and doctors seem to be more interested in their computers or their charts than they are to you?

If your experiences are like most people, your answers to these questions are not very flattering to the medical profession and to the health care system in general. Most doctors don't really want their practices to be like this, but they don't have much choice. They have to have a high volume of patients in order to make ends meet financially. The high volume makes the clinic a very busy place and most patients don't feel like they get much attention.

In 1996 in Seattle, a doctor named Howard Moran thought there should be a better way to do this. He pioneered the concept of having a lower volume practice with highly attentive medical care provided as a service for patients in return for a retainer fee, much like many attorneys or accountants use. This fee may be in addition to, or in lieu of, the regular office fees that are billed to insurance companies. This concept allows the practice to remain financially solvent while providing better, more attentive medical service to its low volume of patients (usually keeping the patient count down to about one tenth of the number in a typical traditional primary care practice).

Unfortunately, health insurance companies currently don't pay for this type of service, so that means the patients have to pay this out of pocket, but if the service is good, it may be worth it. Patients who join these practices are encouraged to keep their usual insurance which they will need for visits to other specialists, laboratory testing, radiological testing and/or hospital services if needed.

Many concierge practices offer same or next day appointments, no long waits for appointments or prescription refills, direct access to your personal physician day or night, house calls if necessary, continuing care if hospitalized, complete physical examinations, audiometry screening, cardiovascular and cancer risk screening, more attention to preventive care, unrushed appointments, all questions answered, family meetings if needed, coordination of care with specialists, provision of personal health records on CDs or flash drives, etc., etc.

Depending on the type and number of services that are provided, the flat retainer fee can vary widely from one area to the next ranging from $100 to $20,000/ year, most probably averaging around $1500-3000/year. There were only a few hundred of these physicians a few years ago, but there are over 5000 of them now all over the country. Many of them, but not all, are listed at the main website for the Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design - www.simpd.org. Patients may be able to find a concierge physician in their area on this site.

There has been some controversy surrounding some of these practices because some authorities feel the growth of concierge medicine will lead to a 2-tiered medical system in this country - one for the wealthy and one for the not-so-wealthy. Also, with the current shortage of primary care physicians (PCPs), with increasing numbers of concierge practices, the number of PCPs available for traditional offices will be even smaller, and access to care for patients served by those practices will suffer. On the other hand, more medical students may become interested in primary care if opportunities in concierge medicine are available to them when they finish their residencies.

Some of these practices have come under fire from insurance companies who say that concierge physicians are basically providing an insurance plan for their patients without having an insurance license to do so. The practices must therefore be legally and financially structured in such a way that avoids this criticism.

Overall, the concept of concierge medicine provides a good alternative to the currently unsatisfying traditional model of medical practice. The fee may seem high to some, but in most instances, it probably isn't much higher than the cost of the local cable or telephone bill, or about the same as what a family would spend eating out at a restaurant once a week.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Warth,_M.D.

The Basic Triangle of Healthy Life Style

2009-08-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

The Triangle of Life Concepts

In this article we discuss how to avoid a younger mortality. The first thing that we have to understand is the basic of the life concept. It is the good and proportional combination of healthy nutrition, sufficient exercise and quality sleep or rest. Those three elements of life are the most important things. They must be understood comprehensively to support your healthy and happy life. The good and healthy nutrition combined with sufficient quality sleep and proper exercise will be the foundation of good health. It is like a triangular. We talk about comprehensive knowledge about maintaining a good health as a whole. We have to live in harmony. It calls holistic health care.
Rest and quality sleep

Sufficient rest and good sleep will demand us to have muscle and mind relaxation. The meditation and NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) is the choice how to manage your mind. The simple method of meditation is sitting down on an arm chair or sitting on the floor like usual meditation posture. Let your backbone straight and begin to feel consciously when you inhale and exhale your breath through your nostrils. Feel the air enter your lungs through your nostrils when you inhale and feel the air goes out your nostrils when you exhale. You do not have to regulate your breath. Do not attempt to control your mind. Just breathe as usual and feel it. Let it go about five to ten minutes. Then you will feel relax naturally. That is the easiest way to meditate. If you have interest to learn about meditation you can read the related books or join in the meditation class. It is good for your health and your mind. With this relaxation method you will overcome any stressful situations and conditions. Remember, stress can kill you.

NLP or neuro linguistic programming will teach you how to control your mind. It is about controlling the internal representation where you have to select your internal dialogue. Do not let your internal dialogue supplies you with negative thinking. Whatever your experience, it is up to you to translate it into your inner mind. There is no negative information when you understand how to convert it to a positive and happy thinking. NLP call it reframing. It is the way how you translate all the information into friendly and happy influence to your mind. If you face a bad experience which is potential to make you angry then make a reframing. Make a nice and entertaining reframing, so that your internal representation receives the information as a happy thing. You can smile instead of feel anger that can choke your blood artery.

The spiritual approach to your problem is also a nice way. There is no real disease or problem when you have proper spiritual solutions. Everybody, despite their religion or even an atheist; they should believe that there is a supreme unlimited power that regulates this universe. Whatever you call it, supreme power, if you close to this power then you will feel stronger and free from any problem. The ways how to be close to this supreme power are:

1. You have to be wholeheartedly sincere and trust with faith.

2. You have to realize that this power is full of love and affection.

3. You must believe in this unlimited power. "HE" can do anything "HE" wants without any difficulties.

4. You have to feel thankful and gratitude for anything you have got and enjoy in your life, which we can not list it one by one.

5. You must always remember, keep in mind that this supreme power is every second be with you. Support and help you 365, 52, 7 days 24 hours. I hope you understand these numbers.

6. You should feel very happy at anytime. You know that the Almighty always be with you so that you always feel fun and happy.

If you believe in God, keep praying. Sincere and good pray will award you a very powerful influence to the quality of your life, own health, your family, your friends and even all of living creatures in the world. So, be careful with your intention and pray. Keep positively thinking because how you think will potentially influence your own life and environment. What you think repeatedly suggest the same thing unconsciously to your mind (your subconscious mind). Please be aware that your subconscious mind is very powerful. You can not control your subconscious mind. However, you can utilize the power of your subconscious mind by giving repeated suggestion or affirmation. When you think positively that can make you happy, it will give the same affirmation to your subconscious mind. It will translate the information as the good and happy experience. Your emotion will be more positive and happy too. This positive emotion will lead you to a correct, precise action or behavior to pursue and receive what you want. You can obtain your target easily.

1. Good sleep

It is very important to have good quality deep sleep at night. If you have problem to get sleep, try to listen carefully your own breath. Feel it when you inhale and feel it when you exhale. Listen to the regular sound of the wall clock in the bed room. Take a 3 milligrams of melatonin tablet and divide into two, drink this 1 ½ mg of melatonin with a little water. In 15 minutes you will get sleep naturally. The melatonin will not make you addicted. It also will not harm your health even though you take it at regular basis. However, when you have no more insomnia stop the consumption of this melatonin.

Sleep at least 7 hour a day. Sleep at night is much better than day sleep. However, if you do not have enough sleep at night, try to get afternoon sleep around one or two hours.

2. Exercise

To keep your mind and body healthy, you must not be lazy. Move your body, your legs, and hands. Walk at least 30 (thirty) minutes a day or every the other day is enough. Stand with your feet at a distance about 10 inches and sway your arms upward and backward. Do it 50 to 200 times a day. It is the ancient Chinese way of perfect exercise. Stand and swirl your body anti clockwise 7 times and do it 5 times a day. It is also a choice how to exercise. Jog, swim, or cycling is among nice ways to exercise too. However, if you are not used to work daily exercise, go easy. Start with the lightest one and gradually every week you add the quantity. There are many nice and entertaining exercises if you want. But please remember, do not over exercise, it is as bad as you do not do any exercise at all. Consult your doctor before you begin your work if you have hypertension or heart problem.

Walking is the best and sustaining exercise. You are not easy to get bored with fun walk. Do relax walk every the other day. If you are not used with physical exercise start with only 5 minutes walk on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in first two weeks. In the second two weeks you can increase to be 10 minutes walk. The next two weeks you increase again to be 15 minutes. The next two weeks again you make it 20 minute each time you walk. After you get used with this type of simple exercise gradually add the dosage of your walk to become 4 times a week, 5 times a week and 6 times a week.

You can enjoy better health and you can feel better too with this easy exercise. This kind of oldest exercise is not boring. You can walk every where you want. You can walk even in your own house by repeating walk back and forth from your front door to the back door of the house. Make yourself feel comfortable, create your own walking environment wherever you want, so that you like it, and enjoy this whole life exercise. Make it to be your new habit, healthy and fun habit.

There is much other simple exercise like jogging, cycling, or swimming. Choose some of them to vary your usual personal exercise. You will love this body moving activities. Exercise will help you to get relax, free your stress and easier to get sleep.

3. Eat right with good and balance nutrition

We have discussed comprehensively about eat right. You have learnt about all kinds of macronutrients, good protein, good carbohydrate, and good fat. You have read the guidance on how to choose and combine your meals. You must be able to design good and healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. You also need to have good and healthier low calorie snack. Prepare your mid morning, mid afternoon, and before going to bed meals. These extra meals should content complete good protein, good carbohydrate, and good fat. Choose some good nut for your snack or extra meal but keep it small portion. Just take it as little as one or two table spoon of nuts.

Keep extra attention on your daily diet, during first two week intensive diet and in your maintenance program for the rest of your whole life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Syahrir_Imaluddin

Healthcare Reforms and RAC Program

2009-08-23T06:16:00.000-07:00

The United States of America envisions the country providing affordable and quality health to Americans. There is a huge challenge to overcome fraud waste and abuse, medical errors and medical necessity determination. The problem of improper payments has to be dealt intelligently to avoid under and over coding.

Every common layman knows that only reforms can bring revolution in healthcare, president Obama has put emphasis on the reforms very much but only spending money on the name of reforms would not actually change the healthcare system it is about the "effectiveness of system" that will bring the change.

One of the core features of the Obama plan is the claim that every family will save about $2,500 per year. The plan accommodates a Health information technology investment aimed at tumbling unneeded expenses that result from preventable errors and infertile paper billing systems. It will also help preventing and organizing of unrelenting circumstances. The preparation is required to raise insurance industry competition and reduce underwriting costs and profits in order to reduce insurance overhead. The health insurance should be universal which will diminish spending on uncompensated care.

The government has come up with RAC (Recovery Audit Contractor) which has completed its demonstration and now the government is thinking on lines to go nationwide with RACs. Just because the amount is significant in term of recovery, RACs are satisfactory for CMS in reality the percentage of recovery is far lesser than the potential. This system requires utmost utilization of human resources whereas an intelligent Electronic health Record system would pin point the problem at first stage. It will reduce a lot of cost and the wastage of resources.

The strategy and Tactics both are off beam in RACs case. It is quite simple, despite going in to the root cause; all the effort is to eliminate the problems occurred due to that root cause. RAC primarily task is to recover the payments either under payments or overpayments, but why not address the main problematic area. The spotlight should be on the system that does not allow improper payments rather then after improper payments making efforts to recover them. Both strategy (which direction to go?) and Tactic (how to get there?) are erroneous.

With more than 15 years of experience and expertise, Manzoor Hasan MBA, MST, CPA, is CEO at e-Health Vision Inc. and a seasoned consultant in healthcare and other corporate entities. He has extensive expertise in medical management, physician recruitment and as a liaison in negotiations with hospitals, managed care organizations, group practices, HMOs and others.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manzoor_Hasan

Vitamin B and Acai Berry

2009-08-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

The acai berry features a seemingly endless amount of benefits. People are used to hearing about the major health benefits of the acai berry. They hear about the antioxidants and the omega fatty acids that come from acai. They often fail to hear about the other health benefits of the acai berry.

Acai is a great source of Vitamin B. Acai features vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin B3. Vitamin B1 is a great source of energy. It is relied on to help keep your muscles working properly. Vitamin B2 is important for your skin, and for your eyes. Vitamin B3 is incredibly important for creating energy in the body from carbohydrates. It is also important for the digestive system. Like many other vitamins, it is important for healthy skin.

It is important to have about 1.5 mg of B1 vitamin daily. 1.7 mg are needed, per day, for Vitamin B2. Those who are looking for their daily vitamin B3 dose will need to have about 15 mg.

The acai is a great way to get your daily dose of Vitamin B. You can get this through acai juice and through acai berry supplements. These can come in both powder and pill form. Each supplement will have all types of B vitamins in them.

There are multiple foods that will feature the Vitamin B that you are looking for. Vitamin B1 can be found in Pork as well as kidney beans. Vitamin B2 can be found in any red meat and any dairy product. Vitamin B3 is found in all types of meat. It is also found in peanuts. Nearly any food can be added to the acai berry diet to get the right amount of the important B vitamins.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dana_Hawkes

Obama's Health Care Plan is Useless

2009-08-19T23:53:00.000-07:00

The health care plan that President Obama has proposes will do nothing to solve our health care crisis. All the plan will do is help those who now have sickness or diseases to help them pay for their treatment and prescription drugs.

Now you might say well that's what it should do, doesn't it? Well you are right it will help do that but that doesn't solve our health care crisis. The only thing that will finally solve that problem is education.

What I mean by that is you need to teach people what they must do to be healthy and stay healthy. My proposal is to establish health learning centers in various cities all over the country.

In those learning centers people would learn about healthy diet procedures, proper exercise, weight control, stress management and mind control. The staff that would run these centers would be people who would be highly qualified to teach the various methods of good health care practices.

I know however that this is probably a proposal that will never come about because of such strong resistance from Big Pharma, the medical community and even Congress. It seems the biggest reason it won't is because creed is more important to them our citizen's health condition.

I become very angry and saddened that this kind of attitude has become part of our culture today. As a senior citizen I can remember in the past when the government and the medical community were more caring then today. As for as Big Pharma their existence was barely known.

Just yesterday, July 1st, I watched President Obama's address at the town hall meeting in Annandale, Virginia. I usually don't listen to any of his rhetoric because he is just like the typical politician that, I don't believe, has the interest in our beliefs at heart.

However I turned on CNN while I was having lunch to see what the latest news was and they happened to be carrying this town hall meeting.

After listening for a while, I was about ready to turn off the TV, when he was ready to open up questions from the audience. What really caught my attention was a lady in the audience who they had given a microphone to ask a question.

With tears in her eyes and difficulty talking she relayed to the President her sad story about her sickness and her inability to pay for her medical insurance or doctor visits. I never really heard the seriousness of her ailment because she was so distraught she had difficulty talking clearly.

Then Mr. Obama had her come closed to him, hugged her and assured her that her problem would be taken care of by his illustrious health care plan. His remarks even made me sick at my stomach because of the great things it will do for everyone.

His ineffective health care plan is no more than a band aid treatment for her ailment or anyone else which is the same kind of band aid treatments anyone gets from their doctor and Big Pharma every day.

According to her, whatever her ailment was to begin with, she now has other ailments to contend with which are bigger problems than the ones she started out with.

So here is just one person in several million whom are crying out for solutions to their health problems and still not getting the right answers to solve them. And as I previously stated health education is the only answer to solve people's illnesses and diseases.

Since I believed the government, Big Pharma or the medical community will never help solve this gigantic health crisis, me and many others who preach alternative healing methods are left with the duty to spread their beliefs far and wide.

I can tell you this; I will never quit preaching my beliefs as long as I am physically and mentally able to do so. It's my strong passion and I spread my beliefs in my website, my blog, my 6 lesson ecourse and many articles I write and submit to directories.

Just recently I heard Mr. Obama say that because Big Pharma is interested in his health care plan, they are willing to invest $80 billion to support it. I find that real interesting. Do you believe that they are really interested in solving America's health problem or is their interest in what they might get in return for their investment?

I know what I believe - what do you believe? I would be interested in your comments.

Sonny grew up in a family that owned a local florist business that lasted for 63 years. For 29 years he was personally involved in the business.

Eventually becoming dissatisfied at the age of 44 years with it, he left to become a sales representative and spent more than 20 years in sales roles.

After retirement Sonny became heavily involved in developing an Internet business.

Four years ago, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. On the first visit with his wife to her oncologist, Sonny became involved in a discussion over possible treatments. He wanted to discuss alternative treatments instead of conventional treatments for her disease. The doctor was not receptive to his ideas at all.

His wife did eventually accept the doctor's decision but Sonny never did endorse it.

Because of this experience he left the doctor's office that day vowing to spent the rest of this life searching for alternative health methods to treat and cure all types of illnesses and diseases.

He then began sharing that information on his websites and even started writing articles on health matters to raise public awareness on the issues.

His wife's cancer is now in remission and she does accept many of his healthy recommendations. Hopefully both of them will extend their life expectancy by following daily healthier practices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sonny_Julius

Boomers Going Abroad For Healthcare

2009-08-19T23:52:00.000-07:00

Most seniors are concerned with health issues. Increasing needs for medical care, the rising cost of that care and the outrageous price tag of prescription medications has many seniors these days choosing between paying their rent and paying for their medications.

Unfortunately, many baby boomers, those generally defined as having been born between 1946 and 1964, are finding themselves in a precarious situation due to the struggling economy, cutbacks in government aid, and an inability of many facilities to provide adequate care for a multitude of needs.

Seniors waiting for non-life-threatening conditions such as knee surgeries, cosmetic or plastic surgeries, obesity or weight loss treatment programs, hip resurfacing or hip replacement procedures and even vision or dental care are placed on increasingly growing waiting lists as priorities and life-threatening illnesses and injuries take precedence.

According to the Medical Tourism Magazine, 2010 will see nearly 75,000,000 baby boomers seeking or needing necessary medical treatment or surgeries. By the year 2030, nearly half of adults living in the United States will be over 50 years old. Life expectancy is lengthening, and more seniors are living well into their 90s and topping the 100-year-old mark. The need for care for such individuals is growing and the medical industry is scrambling to find ways to care for this generation.

Unfortunately, the health care system in the United States is wobbling, but that doesn't mean baby boomers can't find adequate healthcare, treatments, procedures or surgeries for their needs. Medical tourism is a booming industry, and has become an accepted and safe alternative to high medical costs, long wait times, and inadequate services found in Britain, Canada and the United States.

Arthritis, osteoarthritis, mild forms of dementia, and heart problems prompt many otherwise healthy seniors to seek medical treatments that will improve quality of life. Concerns regarding treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or dementia are also high on the list of medical conditions that seniors worry about. So is the growing need for therapies and joint replacement surgeries. Unfortunately, such care is growing increasingly expensive and many boomers wonder if they will be forced to suffer in silence.

Global Boomer Tourists Leading the Way

Baby boomers and others of the post-World War II generation are not to be taken lightly or underestimated. This group of individuals has led the way in medical tourism to destinations in Asia, South America and Europe for excellent, high-tech state-of-the-art facility care, treatments and procedures for many years. According to the World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress, the coming years will see nearly 17,000,000 Americans venturing beyond domestic borders for medical and healthcare in India, Thailand, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Croatia, and dozens of other international destinations with growing reputations for providing some of the best medical and surgical care in the world.

Alarming Cost of Medical Services in the 21st Century

Everyone's worried about finances these days. Baby boomers who are set for retirement are now having to switch gears and transition from plans for retirement to staying in jobs an extra five or 10 years to meet rising living expenses and healthcare needs. Alarming statistics define that nearly 60% of today's bankruptcies are caused by staggering medical expenses as a result of emergency surgeries, diagnosis of chronic illnesses, treatment of cardiac and bone diseases and processes as well as treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Seniors limited to Social Security or pension payments are in a particular predicament. Many seniors have moved in with family members to help share living expenses, save money and cut expenses, but don't count this generation down and out.

Boomers Fighting Back

Baby boomers are one of the most educated generations, and easy access to Internet resources has encouraged and enabled many of today's baby boomers to find reliable and timely resources for medical travel abroad.

Boomers are careful and patient when it comes to researching options, and more are finding that international medical facilities offer not only the care they need, but at prices they can afford. Traveling abroad for treatment and surgical procedures for everything from arthritis to stem cell transplants is the wave of the future. Improving quality of life, enjoying excellent and state-of-the-art healthcare and benefiting from lower healthcare costs in international medical destinations offers boomers the ultimate solution when it comes to their medical needs, today and tomorrow.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Alfred

Understanding the Eligibility Requirements of Medicaid

2009-08-15T01:33:00.000-07:00

Medicaid is an insurance program that is offered by every state to people with lower incomes. The program is, in part, federally funded, but each state is given freedom in how they implement their Medicaid Program.

Medicaid, while federally funded and regulated, varies from state to state, because each state is given freedom to choose how to meet the federal regulations. The same federal agency that administers Medicare, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS,) is responsible for ensuring that the states are meeting the federal regulations.

Medicaid is intended to help those with lower incomes afford medical care, but over 50% of those in poverty do not qualify for Medicaid.

Eligibility for Medicaid is divided into several categories, with each category having several requirements that must be met. The basic categories are children, pregnant women, the parents of eligible children, single parents, and single individuals. The actual requirements can change a great deal between states, specifically because each state administers their own Medicaid Program, but the states are required by the Federal Government to cover individuals who fall into the above categories.

While poverty is an overall requirement to be eligible for Medicaid, being poor by itself does not qualify someone for Medicaid. Instead, an individual or family must both have a low income and fall into one of the specific categories.

Typically, Medicaid is only available to American Citizens or those who are otherwise legal residents. However, in the case of children, as long as the child is a resident, the status of their parent or caretaker does not matter. As long as the child is a legal resident, they may receive Medicaid benefits.

Medicaid is available for a number of disabilities, including HIV. In fact, Medicaid is the single largest source of funding for HIV care from the federal government. However, in order for HIV to be classified as a Disability, the disease must have progressed to Aids, which is defined as having a T Cell count of less than 200.

In order to become enrolled in Medicaid, it is necessary to submit an application to your state. In order to adhere to federal regulations, the state must review and act on the application within 45 days of receipt, although they are given 90 days in the case of disabilities.

Beginning in 2005, as part of the Deficit Reduction Act, there were several changes to Medicaid, which serve to provide tighter control over who can receive these benefits. It is now necessary to provide proof of residency or citizenship before being approved for Medicaid Benefits.

The government has also put in place much stricter financial requirements on an individuals assets. Most states cap an individuals assets at $2000, although this figure does vary. The government now analyzes all money transfers and gifts over the past five years. The total of these assets is then used to penalize the individuals receipt of nursing home benefits. In the case of many seniors that have made gifts of their assets, this penalty prohibits them from qualifying for Medicaid, even though they do not have the money to pay for it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Tarwell

Patient Access Management is the Cornerstone of Health Care Reform

2009-08-15T01:32:00.001-07:00

As healthcare evolves into an increasingly competitive field, everyone is feeling the pressure. Patients are being presented with more choices and greater responsibilities. They are responding by seeking health care information and resources that help them make healthy decisions. For their part, individual providers must run more efficient operations that still attract patient base; they are becoming receptive to-and often demanding-connectivity tools that offer a better way. Similarly, an array of economic factors is converging upon provider organizations. Information technology (IT) is still a preferred means to strengthen quality and better manage costs.

With so much emphasis placed directly on cost and quality, the third principle for ongoing health care reform, Access, often gets lost in the shuffle. It's an unfortunate result of competitive dynamics unleashed in the economy's largest, most complex sector. But the problem is actually an opportunity. By addressing Access problems, from work flow bottlenecks, to resource management to complicated payer requirements, providers can positively impact both quality and cost.

It is certainly true that, in order to compete, hospitals, health systems, medical groups, ambulatory care centers and specialty care centers must first collaborate from within. For ideal patient Access, medical stakeholders must have Access to each other. Indeed, providers are perpetually searching for techniques to more tightly integrate internal operations and leverage established business partnerships. But as the long promised gains in IT productivity and returns on investment begin to materialize, how to handle patient Access and consumer connectivity are emerging as the key questions.

Building the bridge for patient/consumer/provider Access finally brings the entire health care continuum online. In the process of resolving the Access Management challenges, providers large and small are recognizing that they are also addressing the economic imperatives to mitigate administrative burdens and differentiate themselves to the general public.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_Monahan

Family Physicians in India - Where Have They Disappeared?

2009-08-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

Patient: "Doctor, I am having a cold for the past three days"
Doctor: "Did you get wet in the rain? No? Your brother is having a cold? NO? Oh! It is your sister who got cold first? Yes? fine. Don't worry. Get this medicine from the compounder and take it for two days. See me after that."

The compounder takes out a thin strip of paper, folds it thrice, cuts all four corners with a scissors and then pastes the unfolded strip onto the bottle. That is a Dose indicator. You give something less than a rupee for a bottle of eight doses of some colored liquid. You happily go home, consume the medicine faithfully and perhaps don't go the doctor again because you are feeling much better.

After some days, your elder brother goes to the doctor for a sore throat. The Doctor remembers every ailment your brother has had, every injury and knows all about his health in total. He knows that in your brother's case ordinary sore throat may land him into pneumonia easily and takes him seriously, unlike he did with your cold.

Senior citizens will easily recall scenes like the above from their childhood days.

Such family doctors are simply missing. Nowadays we have only specialists for every ailment. Specialists charge heavy consultation fees and often do not know anything beyond their specialization. The specialist refuses to look at you as a whole, leave alone your family as an integrated unit. He would always refer you to other specialists and relies heavily on test results for diagnosis. As a layman you may be confused whether you should go to a nephrologist or Urologist when you have a problem of passing urine. Because they are supposed to be better equipped, should you suffer more?

Should we not bring back the Family Doctors? You may wonder why. Well, they knew the entire family and their ailments. They could treat you holistically. They knew by heart medicines to which you are allergic. Some even remember your blood group. Most of them tried simple things first. Much of the diagnosis was done relying on physical examination, observation and questioning. Diagnostic tests were minimal. Patients had total trust. They did not charge you a hefty consultation fees. They helped you going to specialist in case there were complications. They were patient and clarified your doubts. The Family Doctor was ready to make home visits if you grand father could not make it to the clinic.

If we somehow bring back the culture of Family Physicians they may be very beneficial in another area. Health Insurance for Senior citizens is becoming a nightmare. Premiums are heavy. No affordable policies are available. "Pre-existing disease" clauses simply make Health Insurance policies useless. Insurance claims are becoming a racket with the collusion of patients and corporate hospitals. Thus caught in this vicious circle, the poor senior citizens spend sleepless nights without any insurance cover.

Family Physicians can act as a bridge. He can provide preventive and first level domiciliary care. He can help senior citizens maintain good health through advice and regular monitoring. He can liaise with Insurance companies and hospitals whenever hospitalization and surgical procedures are necessary. He can minimize diagnostic tests and not yield to the pressure tactics of greedy corporate hospitals squeezing every last pie from the insurance company. Getting second opinion may be easy. There are lots of other things the FP can do effectively nowadays.

Insurance Development Authority of India (IRDA) set up a committee in 2007 under the Chairmanship of KS Sastry. The mandate was to study and recommend steps to be taken by the Government in improving Health Insurance system for senior citizens. One of the most important recommendations relates to bringing back Family Doctors system. Can NGOs take it up with the GOI to consider this issue seriously?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Padmanabha_Vyasamoorthy

Dicom Storage Solutions For Archiving and Disaster Recovery

2009-08-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Every medical facility is concerned with meeting HIPPA regulations in place for the storage of medical records. HIPPA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a law that was passed by the United States Congress in 1996. Part of the Act puts in place national standards for electronic health care documents, which include provisions for privacy and security of health records. Many medical facilities find that switching over to digital imaging from film imaging makes the tasks of archiving and disaster recovery much easier in terms of being HIPPA compliant.

Dicom Storage

Medical offices and imaging centers that utilize Dicom or dicom converters with their analog equipment have many options available in terms of dicom image storage. Dicom storage can happen at individual workstations that are set up with PACS systems. You have the flexibility to select dicom image storage that allows you to copy digital files to a cd or dvd. This is a quick and easy way to backup digital files on individual computers.

You can also save digital images directly to a dicom archive. A dicom archive works in a similar manner to your personal computer's archival system. The central dicom storage server is home to a database that you set up for storing medical digital images. From the dicom archive, digital files can be retrieved at individual workstations in your medical facility. This type of dicom storage also makes it easy to distribute medical digital images as needed.

Disaster Recovery And Dicom Storage

Disasters of a catastrophic nature, such as can occur with floods, fires or hurricanes, mean that your medical facility will need to have a disaster recovery plan in place, as well as one that is HIPPA compliant. Your dicom image storage solution will play a big part in that plan. Your digital files can be backed up daily onto CDs and DVDs as well as your onsite server quickly and easily at your computer workstation. They can also be archived at a secure offsite location, such as your dicom storage server. In this way, the records would be immediately accessible offsite if you could not reach them onsite. Automation of the backup process is entirely possible when you are backing up to your offsite dicom storage server.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Blocker

How Can Radiology PACS Help Your Medical Facility Run More Efficiently?

2009-08-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

Making the switch from film images to digital medical images is a great way to improve the work flow and efficiency of your medical office. You can save a great deal of time and therefore money by making the switch to digital imaging. Radiology PACS help you accomplish this.

Radiology PACS are Picture Archiving and Communication Systems that allow you to produce, view, archive and transmit digital images. Digital radiology systems utilize both specialized software and hardware, yet many of the systems can be run on personal computers and networks with which you likely are already familiar.

Like all digital products, the cost of radiology pacs systems has dropped over the past several years. This means that Radiology PACS are now within the reach of small to medium-sized medical offices and facilities.

Storage of your digital medical images will also save your medical facility money. In the past, prints had to be made, which were then stored in file folders in large storerooms. It was also a big task to retrieve film images, because you had to wade through all of the files to find the ones you needed. This is a thing of the past with digital radiology systems. With a couple of mouse clicks, you can sort through thousands of digital images files to find the one you want in a matter of seconds. Costs typically associated with storage, including storage space, paper, files, as well as chemicals used to print film images, are completely eliminated with digital radiology systems.

Radiology PACS also help you stay in compliance of HIPPA regulations for the storage of patient records and medical images much more easily than in the past, when up to seven years of hard-copy records had to be stored and backed up. Digital images can be backed up onto CDs and DVDs as well as offsite archiving on hard drives and in databases by using radiology pacs systems.

Radiology pacs systems also allow you to take advantage of teleradiology, where digitized medical images and records can be sent to authorized personnel via the Internet. PACS enables physicians anywhere with Internet service to access medical digital images, thus enabling real-time collaboration with physicians down the hall or around the world. In this way, radiology PACS benefits patients, by giving them better care at a fraction of the traditional cost.

Another advantage that comes from using digital radiology systems is that it utilizes the same computer technology with which you and your office staff are already familiar. Computers are turned into workstations with radiology systems software. Peripherals such as scanners and printers are used in conjunction with radiology pacs systems to allow you to scan hard copy documents and turn them into digital images, or to print out digital images.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Blocker

Convert Non-Digital Medical Images to Digital With a Dicom Converter

2009-08-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Your medical facility may currently have a host of traditional medical equipment, which might include MRI and CT machines, as well as film x ray, mammography and ultrasound equipment. If you are in the process of making the transition to digital medical imagery, it can be a daunting prospect to replace all of the traditional equipment with digital imaging ones. There is a less expensive solution, however, that will allow you to acquire medical images from any modality, enabling you to then send, receive and archive those images. The solution is to use a dicom converter.

Once film images have been switched to digital through the use of a dicom conversion, you will have a great deal of flexibility with the images. When a dicom converter is used in conjunction with a PACS system, you will be able to view, send and receive digital medical images. You will also be able to archive according to HIPPA standards your medical digital files when you use a dicom conversion to reformat your film images to digital. Offsite backup to a database is also possible for disaster recovery when you take advantage of all that digital imaging has to offer with a dicom converter tool. The conversion tools can also help you stay within your budget, because you can use analog imaging modalities right along with your updated dicom units, so you can upgrade as your budget allows at a time that is right for you.

Dicom tools can also help you with storage of the medical images. Certain dicom conversion systems allow you to record the medical images from dicom to cd or dvd. Using the dicom to cd option allows for quick and easy backups to occur on a regular basis. Dicom to cd imaging is also available when a physician requires a hard copy of a medical image.

Dicom conversion also can happen for static and streamed images. You can use a scanner to scan hard copy film images, and then the dicom tools converts them to digital.

The dicom conversion process also works on digital images that need to be changed over to dicom. You can switch over JPG, BMP, PNG as well as AVI files to dicom files.

There are times when you will need to print out your digital images. Dicom tools make this commonly used process work. You can print images from dicom or Windows systems, adding to the ease with which the system works. These converters also allow you to integrate your digital medical imagery into RIS systems. This means that medical text records can be saved in the same digital format, allowing them to be backed up dicom to cd or dvd as needed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Blocker

A Baby-Boomers Guide to Better and Cheaper Health

2009-05-31T05:53:00.002-07:00

Baby Boomers are the generation that organizes and pays for most healthcare in this country. Women of this generation bear the bulk of the caring load, and tend to have responsibility for not only their own, and their husbands health, but also for their children and their parents. Frequently they also care for other members of extended families, their grandparents or grandchildren, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, and sometimes even nieces and nephews. This is often a very time-consuming and complicated task that may lead to women giving up work and becoming full time family carers. The bottom line is that caring for families is not only an increasingly time-consuming issue for the baby-boomer generation, but also an expensive one.

Everyone talks about how expensive healthcare is, yet few people have started to really look at how it could be cheaper for patients. Many of the costs of healthcare are the result of inefficient practices that arise from a system that has not been focused on patients, and has just assumed that patients will travel from one clinic to the next, from one lab to another, and from home to hospital. Most doctors practices and health systems try and save money for themselves, but not for patients, and often they actually make more money by being inefficient because patients end up having more consultations and repeat tests than are really necessary, and paying for them. There are now many ways that the internet can be used to improve your health, and at the same time to save both time and money, and to therefore ultimately make healthcare cheaper for everyone. This is something that every baby-boomer needs to think about.

As a practicing physician I often advise my patients on a number of ways that they can use the Internet to improve their own healthcare, while at the same time working more closely with their usual doctor.

Broadly these approaches can be described in four simple steps. In brief they are:

1. Learn about how to use the internet for your healthcare. Read about the many different ways that the internet is now changing the practice of healthcare, from the implementation of electronic records and e-prescribing, to emailing your doctor and getting your lab results online.

2. Check out your doctor, and any other health providers, to make sure that they are appropriately expert and qualified to provide your care - and that they can do this using the internet

3. Learn to work collaboratively with your doctor using internet based healthcare. Find out which of the many internet health possibilities can be used by you and your doctor, and use them. You will save a lot of time and money by obtaining your healthcare more efficiently and easily - often at the click of a mouse.

4. Check out your current treatment, and compare it with best practices and health guidelines that you can find on the internet. Learn how to search the internet for health information and how to work out which information is helpful and accurate, and which is not. Then consult with your doctor, and discuss any areas where you think improvements can be made.

It is important that people improve their health by working collaboratively online and face to face with their doctors, by learning how to search effectively for good quality health information, and by comparing their own current treatment with best practice guidelines available on the internet. The baby-boomers have always been a generation that leads change, and it is now time for them to start changing healthcare by insisting that doctors use the many different options for healthcare that the internet has opened up.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Yellowlees

Mom's Guide to Better and Cheaper Health

2009-05-31T05:53:00.001-07:00

Mom's organize most family healthcare in this country. Women of today bear the bulk of the caring load, and tend to have responsibility for not only their own, but their husbands and their children's health. Frequently they also care for other members of extended families, their parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, and sometimes even nieces and nephews. This is often a very time-consuming and complicated task that may lead to women giving up personal interests and opportunities, and not infrequently dropping out of the workforce, to become full time extended family carers. This leads to difficulties as women are more stretched than ever before, especially in this economic recession, where their work incomes are often essential to keep their family afloat, yet they still have to spend considerable amounts of time and energy arranging family care.

The bottom line is that caring for families, and in particular extended families, is not only an increasingly time-consuming issue for today's women, but also an expensive one.

Everyone talks about how expensive healthcare is, yet few people have started to really look at how it could be cheaper for patients. Many of the costs of healthcare are the result of inefficient practices that arise from a system that has not been focused on patients, and has just assumed that patients will travel from one clinic to the next, from one lab to another, and from home to hospital. Most doctor's practices and health systems try and save money for themselves, but not for patients, and often they actually make more money by being inefficient because patients end up having more consultations and repeat tests than are really necessary, and paying for them. There are now many ways that the internet can be used to improve your health, and at the same time to save both time and money, and to therefore ultimately make healthcare cheaper for everyone. This is something that every mom needs to think about.

As a practicing physician I often advise my patients on a number of ways that they can use the Internet to improve their own healthcare, while at the same time working more closely with their usual doctor.

Broadly these approaches can be described in four simple steps. In brief they are:

1. Learn about how to use the internet for your healthcare. Read about the many different ways that the internet is now changing the practice of healthcare, from the implementation of electronic records and e-prescribing, to emailing your doctor and getting your lab results online.

2. Check out your doctor, and any other health providers, to make sure that they are appropriately expert and qualified to provide your care - and that they can do this using the internet

3. Learn to work collaboratively with your doctor using internet based healthcare. Find out which of the many internet health possibilities can be used by you and your doctor, and use them. You will save a lot of time and money by obtaining your healthcare more efficiently and easily - often at the click of a mouse.

4. Check out your current treatment, and compare it with best practices and health guidelines that you can find on the internet. Learn how to search the internet for health information and how to work out which information is helpful and accurate, and which is not. Then consult with your doctor, and discuss any areas where you think improvements can be made.

It is important that people improve their health by working collaboratively online and face to face with their doctors, by learning how to search effectively for good quality health information, and by comparing their own current treatment with best practice guidelines available on the internet. Today's mom's have more challenges than any previous generation, and often have to juggle work roles and home duties, such as arranging family healthcare. It is now time for mom's to start changing healthcare by insisting that doctors use the many different options for healthcare that the internet has opened up.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Yellowlees

7 Tips to Prevent Medical Errors

2009-05-31T05:53:00.000-07:00

According to the Institute Of Medicine, up to 100,000 people are estimated to die in U.S. hospitals each year as a result of medical errors. Many of the medical mistakes occur when patients and doctors don't communicate together, and problems can involve the diagnosis, medicines and other health care issues. Here are 7 tips you can take to lessen the possibility of your medical errors in your medical care:

- Take part in every decision about your care. Actively participate as a part of your health care team. Research indicates that those who are involved are less likely to be a victim of medical errors.

- Give any medications you currently take. This includes all prescription and over the counter medications, home remedies and dietary supplements. Doing this may prevent a medication interaction, which could cause one or more of your medications to be ineffective.

- If you're staying in the hospital, ask about the infection control program. Let doctors and other hospital personnel know you are concerned about preventing infections while receiving medical care. Discuss any procedures that can help reduce the risk of infection.

- Ensure proper hand hygiene. Make sure your doctors and nurses clean their hands before they examine you. It is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection.

- Double check your prescriptions. Be certain that medicine you pick up at the pharmacy was actually prescribed by your doctor. Medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong dose.

- Take a loved one to the doctor with you especially when you're scheduled to have a medical procedure. It's not only comforting, but it's a good idea to have someone there to help you if necessary.

- Clarify details about your surgery. Be sure that everyone involved in the procedure is totally clear about what will be done. Although rare, there are cases of wrong site surgery.

Although health care providers are working to make the health care system safer, increasing medical errors associated with physician burnout and stress are becoming more of a concern for patients and medical experts. Medical experts say it's imperative that patients, first, take control and get involved. It may prevent errors that could prove fatal.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colon_Bolden

Electronic Medical Records - The Pros and Cons

2009-05-31T05:52:00.000-07:00

In this digital age, more and more bulks of information which used to be paper-based, from library catalogs to telephone books, are digitized and stored in a central location for easy access. The idea of EMRs started about 40 years ago.

The main proponents of EMRs cite the following advantages:

(1) The use of EHRs supposedly reduces errors in medical records. There is no doubt that handwritten records are subject to lots of human errors due to misspelling, illegibility, and differing terminologies. With the use of EMRs standardization of patient health records may eventually become acheivable.

(2) Paper records can be easily lost. We have heard how fires, floods and other natural catastrophes destroy physical records of many years, data which are lost forever. Digital records can be stored virtually forever and can be kept long after the physical records are gone. EMRs also help keep records of health information that patients tend to forget with time, i.e. inoculations, previous illnesses and medications.

(3) EMRs make health care cost-efficient by consolidating all data in one place. Previously, paper-based records are located in different places and getting access to all of them takes a lot of time and money. In a systematic review, Kripalani et al. evaluated the communication transfer between primary care physicians and hospital-based physicians and found significant deficits in medical information exchange. The review recommended the use of EMRs to resolve these issues and facilitate the continuity of care before, during and after hospitalization. EMRs translates into better treatment for patients. Take the example of one asthma center's experience with EMR: "A major benefit associated with EMR implementation was the increase in the number of children who were hospitalized with an asthma exacerbation and received an asthma action plan upon discharge. Prior to the EMR system, [only] 4% received an asthma action plan upon discharge. After implementation of the EMR system, 58% received an asthma action plan upon discharge."

(4) EMRs can save lives. VeriChip, developed by VeriChip Corporation is the first one of its kind ever approved by the US FDA. It enables rapid identification of at-risk patients and access to their medical history, thereby enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment especially in emergency situations. Classic examples are people with diabetes and/or heart problems who have high risk of collapsing and having attacks. VeriChip is also useful in vehicular accidents and other trauma incidents where the victims aren't capable of answering questions. In cases of large-scale catastrophes, VeriChip facilitates tracking and identification of victims. According to a coroner in Mississippi, VeriChip helped identify victims during the Hurricane Katrina incident.

Earlier this year, Google Health was launched, an online personalized health records service. Google Health is based on the principle that since it's the patient's medical record, the patient should control it, decide what should be in it, and who gets access to it. One of the features of the service includes records from hospitals and pharmacies that are Google Health-enabled or are registered Google Health partners.

The HealthVault is another online health information storage service offered by Microsoft with features similar to Google Health. Keith Toussaint, senior program manager with Microsoft HealthVault recently stated " leading hospitals like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are actually integrating their systems with both us and Google -- because some people like one or the other. It's a Coke or Pepsi thing."

What are the disadvantages of EMRs? Not surprisingly, privacy rights advocacy groups are the main opponent of EMRs. Here is what they have to say:

(1) EMRs threaten our privacy. In this day and age when people's mantra is "I need my privacy", not many people are comfortable about having their entire medical history recorded and digitized for almost just anybody to see - in other words, incursion into people's privacy. The confidentiality of doctor - patient relationship is still sacrosanct. Besides, medical data can be used against a person in some cases - be it for a job application, insurance coverage or a college scholarship. Although it is against the law to discriminate against people with illnesses and disabilities, it is a fact of life that the fitter you are, the more competitive you are in the job market. The planned incorporation of genetic data in EMRs further adds to people's fear of incursion into their private sphere.

(2) EMRs can lead to loss of the human touch in health care. In the process of digitalization, the interpersonal aspect in health care may be lost. In handwritten hospital charts, doctors and other health care practitioners may write what they think and they feel based on their personal observations in their very own words. EMR is simply about ticking off boxes and crossing out things in electronic forms. The doctors are forced to think in categories and can seldom express a personal opinion on an individual case. Because of the lack of flexibility of many electronic reporting systems, cases of misclassification of patients and their conditions have been reported.

(3) EMRs are not that efficient. Despite efforts in digitalization and standardization, EMRs are actually far from being standardized and not as efficient as it is purported to be. It often happens that one clinic's EMR system is not compatible with that of a general practitioner or another clinic's system, thus belying the claim of added efficiency. In addition, not all users of EMRs are satisfied with the current state of the art. Although the objective is mainly efficiency and healthcare quality, one study showed that nurses in the Netherlands are not completely satisfied with their EMR implemented in 2006-2007.

(4) EMRs are not safe and secure. Google Health and HealthVault are quick in assuring patients of the safety of their online health accounts. Access to the patient's account is only possible using log ins and password. In addition, HealthVault assures that "all health information transmitted between HealthVault servers and program providers' systems is encrypted" and that Microsoft does it best to use the "highest standards of security to safeguard consumer health information from theft, loss, or damage."

However, there are cases wherein passwords and encryptions do not seem to be adequate as data protection tools. Stories of data hacking, stolen identities and blackmail abound. Even high security databases such as those run by banks and credit institutions are often compromised. This impression was aggravated by the many well-publicized incidences of data loss or breach. A few examples are listed below:

November 26, 2007, Canada. Hackers accessed medical information on HIV and hepatitis from a Canadian health agency computer. - September 22, 2008, UK. The National Health Service (NHS) reported the loss of 4 CDs in the mail containing information on 17,990 employees. - September 30, 2008, US. The company Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana confirmed breach of personal data, including Social Security numbers, phone numbers and addresses of about 1,700 brokers. The data was accidentally attached to a general email.

In addition, there is criticism over Google Health not being a "covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the regulations promulgated thereunder (HIPAA)" under its terms and conditions and is therefore not subject to HIPAA privacy of individually identifiable health information. The HealthVault terms and conditions do not mention HIPAA privacy laws so it is not clear what its status is regarding this issue.

(5) VeriChip is not for humans. It is to be expected that although many of us are amenable to the use of RFID chips in pets, the idea of implanting similar chips in human beings is bound to raise hackles in humans, no matter what the US FDA says. A big opponent of the VeriChip and similar chips of its kind is the consumer advocacy group Spychip.com. In a position paper, Spychip and many advocacy and consumer awareness groups see RFID tagging (be it on your person or on the items you buy) as a major threat to privacy and civil liberties. They see the tagging as some kind of "Big Brother" operation. Another group, the No VeriChip Inside Movement, likens VeriChip as "cataloguing" humans similar to the way the Nazis have tattooed numbers on the skin of concentration camp detainees. Popular Hollywood films on privacy incursions (e.g. The Net, Public Enemy No. 1) increased further people's paranoia about personal data.

Where do we go from here? Without doubt, we have the technology to make EMRs standardized and efficient. Google Health, Microsoft HealthVault and similar online personalized health information accounts are enabling patients to take control of their medical records. The main issues that need to be overcome are data security, protection of privacy and gaining the confidence of the patients. It doesn't seem evident that the use of RFID and similar tagging chips will become acceptable or popular anytime soon. However, we live in a digital world and we cannot hold back progress indefinitely. With improved technology and data protection tools, let us hope the EMR issue will be resolved soon.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katt_Mollar

The Acai Berry and Nutrition

2009-05-24T04:26:00.000-07:00

For the last few years more individuals have been becoming aware of the Acai berry. From losing weight to having more energy this is basically what the Acai berry will produce. Of course the results don't happen over night but the Acai berry has been proven to assist any essential vitamins in a nutritional diet.

Some of the Acai berry is extracted into a liquid formula where it can be used as a diet beverage and also to give those nutrients that are missing from the individual not eating certain foods.

Although this type of diet and nutrition has been around for less than a decade it has caught on dramatically and those who are using in have nothing but good to say about it. As far as the nutritional value it is in a big way pretty high in comparison to some of the other vitamins and nutrients found in other nutritional food.

In reality the Acai is a fruit and it doesn't have a very long life span when being grown. Of course it is a berry with very high nutritional and energy levels. While it is only available in juice extract, it is grown on the Amazon tree in the country of Brazil. In addition the pulp as well as the juice can then be used in beverages and other forms of dieting and nutritional foods.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Acai berry replacing some of the vitamins and minerals such as being an alternative. Its amazing how the taste combined with other juices and consumption of the Acai the nutritional value is intensified and most of the nutrients needed are found with the nutrition from an individual's diet in addition to the acai regimen.

Acai is used in many different ways, and for many different health and nutrition as well. Some individual's have reported better eyesight, better memory and so much more.

Although there are always going to be critics about products the best thing of course is to try the product for your self. There are several web sites that teach people about the Acai berry and what it is capable of. Also, on various web sites the nutritional value of the acai pulp and juice are also listed. Unfortunately, its not like an individual can walk in a grocery store and find it, but it can be purchased in some health and nutrition stores as well as some web sites via the Internet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aden_James_Clark

Accurate Edits Return Dollars

2009-05-24T04:25:00.001-07:00

Many companies offer various services and ideas on how to improve revenue. Most, if not all, concentrate their efforts on the front-end registration process, dealing with eligibility, making sure the patients have enough insurance coverage, collection of co-pays, etc. All these procedures are important, are good practices to follow and are essential to a good revenue cycle program.

There is one vital step in the revenue cycle program that tends to be ignored or inadequate. That is proper setup and use of a scrubbing system. In order to have a clean claim, there are a few components dealing with systems and personnel that need to exist. A good, reliable scrubber system needs to be in place, the billers need to know how to use it, understand the information the scrubber provides and, most of all, know how to resolve claims issues presented by the scrubber.

Companies spend hours on research and development concentrating on how well the electronic file is built so the insurance company will accept it. However, even though it is an important step as part of claim submission, how accurate is the information within the file? What if you do not have electronic file submission established for all the carriers and paper claim submissions need to be reviewed?

In addition to a good scrubbing system, there needs to be a good revenue integrity person at your facility keeping up with all the various scenarios relating to reimbursement. The revenue integrity person needs to understand the types of contracts the hospital has with a particular insurance company.

Your facility needs to have solid background on what insurance companies look for and what the best practices are in the billing and coding arena. In our experience with many clients over the years, we have determined that in order to have a good revenue cycle program, there needs to be a synergy between revenue integrity, medical records, coding, billing and compliance. A good "scrubber" system can help to ensure you receive the most appropriate reimbursement for the services you provide.

Besides the front-end eligibility and compliance on file structure, what are the claims issues at a hospital? There are three components:

Compliance
Lost Charges
Payer-specific Issues

There also needs to be a good understanding on how to build edits on your scrubber to look for certain edits dealing with areas such as:

Outpatient Medicare
Carve out
Interventional Radiology
Drug Administration
User-defined

The question is do you have a person, in-house, dedicated to reviewing claims before or after they are billed, to ascertain they are coded correctly? Are you relying on the scrubbing system to do just that? Does your scrubber perform to your expectations? Systems are supposed to be automatic, but we know in the healthcare environment, there are too many variations for a system to automatically pick up most coding errors.

There needs to be someone or some system in place to review particular claims either right before you bill them, and/or shortly thereafter.

Only with the synergy mentioned above, will your facility experience the expedience and accuracy of claims processing and reimbursement it deserves.

By Vince Arencibia and Julie Souder
Omega Technology Solutions
800-859-8009

About the authors

Vicente Arencibia

Vicente Arencibia is a Chief Information Officer with Omega Technology Solutions. In this role, Vicente Arencibia leads a team providing all aspects of electronic technologies, including compliance, claim submission and revenue management.

A big believer in standardization, Vicente Arencibia supports CORE requirements.
Vicente Arencibia is a qualified manager and holds a B.S. in Management and Marketing degrees from Florida Atlantic University.

Before joining Omega Technology Solutions in 2003, Vicente Arencibia worked for twenty years for an HCA facility in South Florida responsible for the Information Services department and coordinated the implementation of a full facility hospital system (Meditech).

Vicente Arencibia is employed by Omega Technology Solutions to create innovative new programs with the pool of experts in both technology and healthcare in an effort to help hospitals with revenue management.

Julie K. Souder, CPC, CPC-H, CPAT

Julie is a business analyst for Omega Technology Solutions with over 22 years in the healthcare industry. Her experiences have taken her everywhere from working on systems to collect patient information during emergency situations, to patient billing, to medical record audits. Previous positions have included the business office management of what was the largest private ambulance company in South Florida, to owning her own medical collections agency.

Her current position involves research and development of claims edit systems that report compliance issues as well as alerts for potential lost charges/revenue. She is also involved in the charge description master products provided by OTS.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vicente_Arencibia

Medicare Supplement Plans - Reduce Your Healthcare Costs

2009-05-24T04:25:00.000-07:00

The U.S. national healthcare system has been undergoing a series of changes since Barack Obama has taken office, and there will only be more changes in the future. It is important to keep up with these changes and how they affect your individual situation and health issues.

A Medicare Advantage plan can lower your out of pocket costs if you rarely need to visit your doctor or the hospital. However, you are taking a gamble on when you rely on this - unfortunately, you never know when you may need to go to the hospital or require other medical services. While your monthly premiums may be significantly less than with a Medicare supplement plan, your deductibles and co-payments will likely be much higher if you do need to visit your doctor or another specialist. With Medicare Advantage plans, you are essentially betting that you won't get sick in the near future - and why would you want to take that kind of gamble with your health and your bank account?

If you are a senior who has pre-existing health issues or think you may need to visit the hospital or require other medical services, you need to seriously consider purchasing a Medicare Supplement Plan. Although your initial out of pocket costs may be a little higher, Medicare supplemental insurance will be much less expensive in the long run that the alternative option of a Medicare Advantage plan. Therefore, doing the research and finding the right Medicare supplement for your needs is best long term choice for your physical and financial health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacqueline_Z

The Benefits of Having Centralized and Linked Medical Care

2009-05-20T18:43:00.001-07:00

The field of medicine and way medicine is practiced has changed significantly in the recent years. Previously the only option available to patients was to see their primary care doctor and then get referrals. Then the patient would go to another doctor, a specialist, and then from that point be referred to either other doctors or treatment providers and then back to their primary care doctor. This way of medical practice can be stressful for the patient who ends up doing a significant amount of coordination between the various medical providers they are getting treated by. The new way of medical care and practice is coordinated and centralized. Medical providers of general practice and specialties are now combined in one location and with one provider.

This type of healthcare treatment is commonly referred to as community healthcare. Momence Illinois healthcare is an example of a community healthcare provider. Patients being treated at a community healthcare center can expect to have treatment by one doctor that is related to and in conjunction with other medical providers. If the patient needs to go to a specialist then the patient will find it easy to get their care coordinated between all the doctors at a community healthcare center.

This type of care at Peotone healthcare is convenient for patients. Treatment at a community healthcare center also means that the patients records are all contained in the same location and accessible by all the different treatment provides the patients sees so long as they are all a part of the community healthcare system. This can be better for the patient who doesn't have to repeat their medical history time and time again with every doctor they see.

Community healthcare centers like Peotone Illinois healthcare also are typically coordinated with a hospital. This means that the patients have access to all the doctors and specialist at the hospital and the community healthcare center. The patient can easily walk into the hospital and feel comfortable knowing these doctors practice similarly to the community healthcare doctors. It is always stressful to go to the hospital but stress can be reduced when you know the doctors at the hospital already have your prior records and can easily get a hold of your other medical doctors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Lane

Are Healthcare Breakthroughs Too Good to Be True?

2009-05-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

The healthcare business is a money machine. The media is constantly reporting big breakthroughs in healthcare, with the main focus being on the producer's expected increase in revenues and sharp rises in share price. What these breakthroughs mean to the general public almost appears to be an afterthought.

It's unfortunate that healthcare companies seem to have lost sight of their initial purpose: helping sick people to get better and healthy people to stay that way. But that doesn't mean that the benefits to individuals don't exist. There are many new technologies in process that could mean more personalized care in treatments for cancer, heart disease, asthma and many others.

One such technology, the ability to transport cancer treatment drugs directly to a tumor, has been undergoing research in universities for years. If this method of treatment can be completely worked out, it could mean the end of the toxic and painful current cancer treatments for many people.

Targeted cancer therapy would mean attaching the drug to tiny nano-particles which have been specifically programmed to find and adhere to a malignant tumor in the body. The drug would only affect the cells of the tumor and not the human body. That means that the toxins in the drug could kill off the tumor without harming the person undergoing treatment. Amazing!

One of the most important aspects of successful treatment for almost any disease is, of course, early detection. The research in DNA, protein analysis and nanotechnology has brought us the very real possibility of very early detection.

Research into this technology has brought scientists closer to analyzing even tiny quantities of specialized proteins, called biomarkers, which could point out the existence of certain diseases in blood samples or even single cells. There is much more testing to be done before these tests can be made available to the public but the gap between 'someday' and 'today' is getting smaller. Regardless of profits to any chemical company, this is an awe-inspiring idea and it's within our grasp.

But what can we do in the 'now'? Even when this technology becomes available, it doesn't mean we should stop taking care of ourselves. Most of the diseases that concern the American public, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer can be greatly attributed to poor lifestyles.

A nutritious diet, a good exercise regimen, plenty of sleep and a good outlook on life are the keys to a healthy lifestyle. A body that functions as it should and is generally free of pain is the best way to ensure that all of these things work together to give you the best possible health.

Your chiropractor is a good place to start to achieve these goals. Chiropractic care can help your body in attaining - and maintaining - optimal performance. In addition to gentle spinal adjustments and diagnosis of structural problems, your chiropractor can also help you to design a balanced diet that will provide you with a good chance at a healthy, happy lifestyle.

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Electronic Records For Small Towns

2009-05-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Electronic health records are the cornerstone of President Obama's new health care reform plan. The Democratic House and Senate have exercised their power to push through a plan that will establish a functioning electronic health records system in just five years. It will cost billions of dollars to set up but is projected to save billions of dollars in future health care costs. Most people see these savings in large medical institutions and the massive health care machine. We shouldn't forget the smaller organizations throughout the country.

Dwight, Illinois is one of the smaller towns in the United States. With a population of less than 5,000 people, some might consider Dwight the perfect place to raise a family. In fact, the statistics point to that fact. The median income and house price represent a healthy middle-class population. The median age of the residents is just below 40. This is a small town that has a range of health care needs.

Dwight Illinois Hospital is there for them. It has the facilities necessary to treat the population. It is also a facility that could benefit from electronic health records. Smaller health care organizations can't afford to make mistakes and provide inefficient care. They don't maintain the same gargantuan budgets that their counterparts in Chicago, New York or other major cities do. Each error avoided pays off ten-fold at the smaller health care facility.

Major leaders such as President Obama will probably never visit Dwight Hospital. However, everyone will appreciate the benefits achieved through the use of electronic health records. There are other similar towns across the country that will experience bursts in efficiency from this change. Other institutions such as the Watseka Illinois Hospital can minimize errors and streamline care amongst its own 5,000 residents.

Electronic health records provide a seamless communication system between small health care facilities and other institutions across the country. If a small town resident has to visit a larger city, in this case Chicago, for a specialized test. He is no longer saddled with the responsibility of making sure records and information make it to and from the appropriate providers. The computer system already handles the management of data that used to be handled on paper.

In addition to the efficiency, the establishment of an electronic health records system will protect all of our records from accidental destruction. It's a fact that smaller towns are less likely to have safe, secure and offsite backup of their sensitive medical records. One catastrophic event - a fire, a bad storm - could destroy the valuable records of the community. However, with electronic health records, the data is backed up and secured at a variety of locations.

Regardless of the size of the town, electronic health records allow doctors and health care professionals to speak to each other at the same level. The small, single provider institution can exchange data with the large "super hospitals" in the big city. The interested parties can work together on the task of better health rather than wasting time on paperwork.

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Health Coaches Needed For Health Care Reform

2009-05-09T21:28:00.001-07:00

Most of the Congressional debate for health care reform revolves around ways to extend reimbursement for sick care. However, paying for more of the same fragmented, costly care isn't reform, it's madness.

The $2.2 trillion health care system, the costliest in the world, requires a new top-to-bottom vision, and although the 600 doctors and health professionals gathered at the Institute of Medicine's Summit on Integrative Medicine last month didn't agree on everything, they reached a resounding consensus about the need for Americans to change their health habits. Yet how can that best be accomplished?

With a primary shift toward health promotion, disease prevention and wellness, a revamped health care system could put the brakes on the disastrous trajectory predicted for 2012, in which total health care costs would equal 20% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Providers, employers, and even insurance companies finally concede that the US would fall behind the world's nations in every imaginable sector if one out of every dollar of our productivity went toward health care costs.

For over 30 years, the National Wellness Institute has been reporting that 8 out of 10 Americans suffer from chronic ailments derived from unhealthy lifestyles: poor diet, inadequate physical activity and unmanaged stress. Yet the difficult task of behavior change has always fallen on individuals, without much support from the medical system or their doctors.

In addition, cultural support has been lacking for the most at-risk populations, often minorities with higher rates of diabetes and obesity. At present, there are more obese Americans than overweight ones-an almost unthinkable statistic.

Cultural support for healthy lifestyles starts with community activists demanding bike paths, public parks, safe streets, farmers' markets, fresh food options and more from their local governments. Together with cooperation from industry, government, health care, and public health officials, pressure can be placed on developers to build environments that provide opportunities for physical activity. Teachers, parents and consumers can demand that Big Food stop advertising cheap, non-nutritious, calorie-dense, processed foods to kids and young adults. Schools can offer nutrition and PE classes again, and lunch programs can teach kids about healthy choices-and provide them!

Should Your MD Get Paid to Teach Wellness?

"Lose weight, stop smoking, start exercising, and cut down on your stress-and I'll see you next year for your physical." Everybody knows that the once-a-year admonition from your doctor rarely translates into new health habits.

A new tier of health coaches can supply the support and encouragement needed for Americans to begin their journey towards maximizing personal health. Health coaches should be part of every public clinic, medical office and hospital wellness center. They should be reimbursed by insurance companies, or be part of the first-access tier of Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance companies and corporate wellness programs. Even Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested that health coaches should be considered a central part of health care reform to CNN's medical reporter Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Instead of medical doctors expecting to be reimbursed for providing health promotion and wellness services (at rates exceeding $200/ hour), health coaches could easily provide this service at one-fifth the cost. They would also present a more friendly, accessible, peer-support approach to individuals. The specialized training of medical doctors is best directed to complex cases, whether acute or chronic.

The entire continuum of care needs to be re-examined and opened up to include reimbursement for health professionals that investigate the foundational causes of chronic illness, and who understand and have specialized skills in countering the ill effects of unhealthy lifestyles-professionals such as Nurse Practitioners, Naturopathic Doctors, and Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors, Homeopathic doctors, and Chiropractors.

For too long, there has been an active collusion barring the advancement of these professions by certain medical organizations with insurance companies, and the public has suffered as a result.

When these allied health professionals spoke up, demanding inclusion at the reimbursement table at the Summit on Integrative Medicine, a few medical doctors such as Dean Ornish, MD, championed this democratizing of the medical landscape, but others kept insisting that their own practices could accomplish wellness services, if only they were properly reimbursed.

However, reimbursement for lifestyle counseling should not have to include the major overhead encountered by medical doctors, including their clinical offices, costly tuition loans, high-tech equipment, numerous staff and billing clerks.

It's been said that the US health care system is neither healthy nor much of a system. I believe it's always darkest before the dawn of a new era, and these dark days of an ailing system must mean the light is about to break over the horizon.

Bringing health coaches into the US health care system can address the colossal "elephant in the middle of the room"-that the burden of disease and related health costs can be dramatically lowered through healthy behavioral change. Learning to move more, eat well and less, and de-stress often, is not only a prescription for a better life, it's an Rx for US health care reform.

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Healthcare Ripoff - Doctors Doing the Screwing

2009-05-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

I have an elderly neighbor I'm happy to take for his doctor appointments maybe once or twice a month because he is unable to drive himself. Last week he was telling me about his recent medical bills. One twenty-minute visit to his general practitioner cost nearly $600 dollars, which included $30 for merely writing a prescription. Another twenty-minute visit to his dermatologist was again nearly $600. In both cases, Medicare & Blue Cross (read: you and every other employed person) paid them in full, with no out of pocket costs charged to my friend.

He went on to say that if he were me, he would be angry about this. That was because though he had paid into Medicare, etc., all his working life, he was now receiving benefits that amounted to not only dollars to the penny that he had paid in, but to thousands of dollars to the penny that he had paid in. He said I would probably never see a penny towards my healthcare paid by Medicare or Blue Cross because when I retire (I am in my forties but have myself paid in for over thirty years), there would be no more money left in either of these funds, much like they say there will be no more money available to us younger people as Social Security.

I'm sure that the doctors could all take the position that what they charge is within the limit of what they are allowed to charge, which is probably so; but I think it's past high time those limits were lowered a great deal, to less obscene totals. Doctors should be in their professions to help people more than to live off the sweat of all working people so they can exist in the byzantine splendor of visiting potentates.

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Your Primary Healthcare Provider is You!

2009-05-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

Your health and wellness are your business and yours to manage! You are, or at least you should be, your own primary health provider! Not only do I believe wholeheartedly in these two statements, they are the basis of my philosophy of personal being. I encourage my clients to think in these terms while embracing the concepts of Alternative medicine and holistic health. No one is more affected by your health than you are! This is one of those "no brainers" that get overlooked when dealing with a complex issue. Sort of a reversal of "not being able to see the forest because the trees are in the way". In this case we can not see some of the solutions because the problems seem to be so overwhelming.

Today's society encourages us to expect instant automatic solutions to our problems. The "press this button", or "take this pill approach" to life! We have come to expect that regardless of what we "allow" to happen to ourselves, there is some wonder miracle drug that will cure it.

Part of the problem is we are no longer expected to be responsible for the consequences of our actions! Several years ago McDonald's was sued for causing people to get fat. Think about that for a moment. I consumed more calories than I burn, so I gain weight. But it is not my fault, its yours because you provided me with the food! Maybe it's just me (I don't think so), but this sounds too much like not accepting the consequence of own action. The "McDonald's made me fat" suit is just a highlighted example of what is becoming more and more prevalent in our society. I think we should get a class action suit going against the medical industry for not finding a cure for the cold or cancer. They know there's a problem but haven't given us a solution yet! Okay I admit that is a bit far fetched, but maybe not far off in the future!

The bottom line is we must take more responsibility for what happens to us. More responsibility for what goes into our bodies. Gain more understanding of what it is our bodies need. Take more notice of what our body is doing, or is not doing. Your personal physician or healthcare provider can not provide you with all of the answers. Most of the answers come from your body, learn to listen to it and understand it!

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Preventative Medicine - MRI Body Scans

2009-04-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

When there is a medical complication that doctors cannot see or diagnose on the surface, other tests may need to be performed. Depending on the type of problem that the patient has, they may request a variety of tests. CT scans and blood tests are very common, but only give a number of diagnoses. Therefore, there is another procedure that many doctors will request to get an inside view of the body.

MRI scanning will allow doctors to see the entire body on the inside, which can help them to find and treat problems much more easily. The magnets in the machine are designed to excite the protons in your body, and when they respond, the image of your internal organs, tissues, and muscles results. Having this scan done can find a variety of medical problems that are not otherwise able to be diagnosed or treated.

An MRI will cost you, though. If your insurance covers the scan or part of it, you'll pay far less than those without insurance. The cost for this test is between $600 and $3500 on average. The cost you pay will depend on your insurance, but also on where you have the scan done. Also, if you choose to have a wide open MRI instead of a traditional one, you will pay more because of the new technology.

Wide open MRIs work the same as traditional MRIs, but the patient is not in an enclosed tube. This lessens the fear and anxiety of having MRI scans done, and makes people more likely to get the test done.

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PACS Workstations For Every Need

2009-04-14T05:42:00.000-07:00

Without the latest PACS workstations, your health care facility may still be operating in the 20th Century. PACS systems actually began making their appearance in major hospitals in the early 1990s, of course - and at that time, only major hospitals could afford them. However, this is no longer the case; the same economic and technological trends that have exerted downward pressures on the cost of personal computing equipment has done the same for PACS workstations, meaning that such equipment is now more affordable than ever.

Familiar, User-Friendly Technology

PACS workstations are part of integrated PACS systems. The acronym "PACS" stands for Picture Archive and Communication System; its primary function is to create and store medical images made from a range of modalities that include MRI, EEG, CAT scans and even old-fashioned X-Rays. These images can be called up and viewed at radiology or mammography workstations, which operate in very much the same way as your personal computer at home. In fact, PACS workstations are essentially PCs that are tied into PACS systems; the only difference is the software used. This software is easy to use however, and allows users to save medical images into archives along with other patient records. These can be configured in any number of ways by the system administrator. Furthermore, PACS systems allow such records to be shared with authorized parties over a LAN or the World Wide Web, while 128-bit encryptions protects records from prying eyes.

Every Health Care Professional Can Benefit

Whether it is a radiology, cardiology or mammography workstation, PACS systems are highly adaptable for a wide range of purposes. Regardless of the specialty of area of medicine, virtually every clinic and hospital can benefit from having a PACS system in place. There are even such systems designed for veterinarians and dental professionals!

More Affordable Than Your Think

It's true that historically, these systems and the PACS workstations that go with them have been costly. Today however, it is possible for virtually any health care facility to have a complete system installed for as little as $5000 - and since PACS workstations are essentially specialized PCs, it is possible to incorporate some of the equipment already available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Hemrick

Mammography Workstations - The Modern Solution

2009-04-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

Unless you have practicing medicine in a very isolated part of the world for the past two decades, you are aware of how digital imaging has changed the field of health care - and how mammography workstations are making it easier and faster to diagnose life-threatening disease with greater accuracy than ever before. What you may not know is that the Picture Archive and Communications, or PACS systems that are at the heart of the digital imaging revolution are now easier to afford than ever before, thanks to the dramatic decreases in the cost of computer hardware and digital storage media. This means that every health care facility can - and should - have its own mammography workstation.

You Already Know How To Use It

All PACS workstations - are based on the same essential PC technology with which you are already familiar. The only difference is in the software required for viewing DICOM image files and the need for an exceptionally high-resolution monitor. Beyond this however, clinics and hospitals that have PACS systems in place can add any number of PACS workstations.

Support For Multiple Modalities

The beauty of PACS systems is that it is possible to view medical images made in a variety of modalities, including MRI, EEG, EKG, CT and even X-rays. PACS workstation software allows you to see these images in a higher resolution than every before - and even see images of internal organs in virtual 3-D space as you would a CAD model. These virtual models can even be color coded for greater clarity.

They're Affordable

The Radiology Department of the Ohio State University Medical Center was among the first health care and treatment facilities that installed PACS systems nearly twenty years ago. Since that time, it is estimated that the use of PACS workstations have saved the center well over $1 million and thousands of hours of labor. At that time however, such systems were very costly, as were the computer hardware on which PACS workstations were run.

Today, your clinic or small hospital can have its own PACS system complete with mammography workstations at as little as $5000, thanks to the dramatic fall in the costs of computer hardware. There are several different models from which to choose, and most such systems are easily upgraded - so you can start out small and add to the system over time as funding permits. There is no reason not to take advantage of the technological benefits of a mammography workstation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Hemrick

Patient Medical Records

2009-04-04T02:29:00.000-07:00

Every year health care professional's examine, diagnose, and treat hundreds if not thousands of patients. Many of these patients don't stick with the same doctor, or are referred to a specialist by their doctor. Because of this constant rotation of patients, doctors must keep medical records to make and informed and accurate diagnosis for each individual. As technology advances this record-keeping process is becoming easier.

Traditionally, a patient's record was written or typed on paper and stored in a folder. When anything new happened another piece of paper with the medical information was dated and slipped into the folder. When a patient moved to a new facility this information was often faxed or copied and sent over. Keeping paper records does work quite well, but it can be a time-consuming and sometimes confusing process to keep all of the files organized and up-to-date.

Many doctors and hospitals are beginning to let technology assist them in keeping accurate records by turning to electronic medical records. An EMR allows a doctor or doctors assistant to quickly input updated information into the computer and store it in the file. If it needs to be sent to another facility it can be sent through the internet, or printed out and faxed or mailed.

The most important thing is that a record is being kept, but the world is changing and technology is rapidly advancing. Most industries are using this to their advantage, and the medical industry is no different. They recognize the potential and are beginning to harness the benefits.

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Advantages of the PACS Viewer

2009-04-04T02:28:00.001-07:00

A PACS viewer - which is essentially a basic PC with specialized software and a high-resolution monitor - allows any health care professional to view medical images made in a wide range of imaging modalities. No longer is it necessary to deal with complicated film developing equipment and expensive and toxic chemicals. Images made with MRI, EKG, EEG, CT, CAT scans or X-rays can be saved as digital images and studied with a PACS viewer.

Medical Imaging Enters the Digital Age

Picture Archive and Communications, or PACS systems, were first used at the Ohio State University Medical Center in 1991. At that time, PACS systems were quite expensive; only major hospitals could afford the mid-to-high six figure price tag of such systems. Nonetheless, over the ensuing decade, OSUMC PACS systems saved over $1 million dollars, thus paying for itself. In addition, it saved thousands of man-hours on the part of physicians, reducing the time between initial consultation and final dictation of a case to three hours.

PACS Workstations

Any personal computers that are tied into the hospital or clinic LAN can function as PACS workstations, provided that the correct software is installed and you have high-resolution monitors. Using a current PC as a PACS viewer saves money and makes better use of existing resources. PACS systems make it possible for any authorized person to view medical images on these PACS viewers; they can even be shared with colleagues anywhere in the world over the World Wide Web for purposes of consultation.

Multi-Functional

PACS systems do more than allow users to look at images; they are a complete integrated system for archival storage of all patient records as well patient scheduling, and most important of all, billing. At PACS workstations, clinic administrative personnel can accomplish many different tasks in one convenient place.

The PAC viewer is also suitable for all specialties and every area of medicine; PAC workstations for radiology, cardiology, mammography and even veterinary medicine. In short, the pacs viewer is for any hospital or clinic facility that wishes to deliver the best health care services at the lowest possible cost.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Hemrick

Radiology Information System PACS - Cutting Edge 21st Century Health Care

2009-04-04T02:28:00.000-07:00

A Picture Archive and Communication System for Radiologists, or RIS PACS is a vitally necessary tool for every oncology department today - and with the dramatic fall in the cost of computer hardware, there is no reason why every health care facility should not have one. Such PACS systems are based on the same personal computer technology with which you are already familiar - so there is no steep learning curve. If you are among the few who are not familiar with this remarkable technology, or are a physician in private practice or the administrator of a small hospital who has been reluctant to invest in a RIS PACS because of cost, read on.

Proven Technology

The one of the first PACS systems in the U.S. was the RIS PACS at the Ohio State University Medical Center Radiology Department back in 1991. Within a decade, the use of these workstations had eliminated the need for the use of expensive film and toxic developer chemicals in cumbersome labs. By 2001, the OSU Medical Center was realizing cost savings of over a million dollars a year through the employment of its RIS PACS.

It was more than dollars that the Center has saved; PACS systems have also saved nearly 7,000 physician work-hours per year. Using PACS workstations, physicians were able to reduce the time between initial patient visit and case dictation to under three hours.

Affordable Technology

Back when the OSUMC installed its RIS PACS, this new technology cost several million dollars. However, the same trends that have forced down the cost of computer technology in general has also affected the cost of these systems; it is possible to outfit a small clinic with a RIS PACS, including workstations, for as little as $5000.

Many Choices

RIS PACS are manufactured by several companies, and each of these PACS systems offer different capabilities. Many PACS systems are upgradeable as well, so it is possible to start out small and add on as time and space permit. You owe it to yourself - and more importantly, to your patients - to learn more about today's cutting-edge yet affordable RIS PACS and how it can help your clinic to deliver better health care services more efficiently and less expensively than ever.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Hemrick

The Right of Universal Healthcare

2009-03-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

One of the primary distinctions between America and most every other country in the world is our belief in human rights. We hold a distinct position in our belief that all men are created equal with certain unalienable rights that were endowed to all men upon their birth.

So what is the meaning of "unalienable right" as used in the Declaration of Independence? Unalienable means something that cannot be transferred or assigned (given to another). In this case we are considered "endowed" as being part of us that cannot be separated. These rights are also known as natural rights. Rights derived from nature and not granted by any government.

It is also understood that rights come with responsibilities. We know that the right of freedom of speech comes with the responsibility to use that right without infringing upon others. We have all heard the saying that freedom of speech does not give you the right to yell fire in a crowded theater. Although this saying is partly correct the truth is you absolutely DO have the right to say it, but you also bear the responsibility for HOW you use it.

An expansion of the rights and responsibility position is that the responsibility is placed upon the person enjoying the right. In the above scenario Jack could not be held accountable for Tom yelling fire in the theater. Every right is predicated upon the duty of the individual to use that right unless and until it infringes on the right of another.

Each and every right has a direct bearing upon the operator of that right. The person bears the cost of enjoying that right as well as the benefit that it entails. For instance; we have the right to freedom of press. We can write and/or read anything we may wish to but we must purchase, burrow, or otherwise legally obtain that item. We have the right to freely move about the country any time we want but we do so by our own means.

Should we as a citizenry, because we have the right to freedom of the press, demand that the government purchase our books for us? We have the right to keep and bear arms; should the government provide them to us? We have the right to travel freely about the country. Should the government also provide us a "free" means of transportation?

The answer in each and every one of these is a resounding NO. First of all our rights do not come from the government, the government is only supposed to protect our rights from being unjustly taken from us. Anything the government provides the government can take away and therefore it is not a right.

There are those who say that "universal health care" is a right, but how can that be? I would agree that each and every person in this nation should have equal access to health services. And just as I cannot afford a million dollar mansion, I purchase what I can afford. Because I cannot afford to eat steak and lobster every day I make due with hamburger and lunch meat. I do not begrudge the person who has earned a living and can afford more, good for them.

And because I cannot afford to fly to the Mayo clinic to receive the best possible health care I go to my local doctor and get what I can afford. Most people forget that a mere fifty years ago, (less time in many places), there was no health insurance. We bought and paid for health care from what we earned and we paid as best we could. And we went only when we absolutely had to.

Of course health care costs were much lower back then before the government got involved with regulating every aspect of our "care." There is not one government agency in existence today that runs efficiently in spite of the trillions of dollars the government takes from us each year. Do we really want the same government that has bankrupt the nation to also add another layer of costs to an already out of control industry?

I have heard from many liberal organizations that they want the government out of the bedroom and their laws off their bodies. They state that people should be free to do with their bodies what they will and they do not want to have government interfere in what they see as their "right."

I would have to say for the most part I agree with that logic. And using that logic I can also say that even though I do not agree with a person's lifestyle or choices I believe they have the right to do as they will as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of another. That being said; a right also has its responsibilities. If a person wishes to engage in behavior that puts them at risk for contracting a deadly virus, dealing with pregnancy, overdosing, or any of the myriad of dangers that await us in life, they also must bear the cost. As Andrew Wilkow, Sirius Radio talk show host says quite often, "Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you." It is the individual who is responsible for the decisions they make and the rest of society is not and should not be responsible for their care.

Remember, health care is not "free" someone has to pay for it. That someone is me, my neighbor, Joe the plumber and every other hard working American. The money we earn is our property and property ownership is a right. Why should I and the rest of us have to pay for others reckless behavior? This is an infringement on OUR rights.

The question then arises; if a person has a right to universal health care then whose responsibility is it to pay for it? Remember, rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. And by establishing those that have a responsibility to pay for another's right you establish a class system which further divides our country.

We actually have a version of universal health care in existence today; it's called the Veteran's Association (VA) Medical System. This system takes care of the medical needs of the military veterans of our nation. I have used this system personally and have found that, for the most part, a person can get adequate medical care. Of course you have long lead times, some times a month out, before you can get in to see someone and most often it will not be a doctor but a physician's assistant. They are always crowded with waiting times to pick up prescriptions of sometimes more than hour and some visits as long as four hours total.

The VA, as with every other government agency today, is mired in red tape. Each and every action of the staff has a specified procedure that must be followed to ensure everything is done a certain way. There is no deviation from the prescribed list. When I was first seen at a VA hospital for injuries to my back I received in Afghanistan the "list" required that I be seen by the Physical Therapy unit. I was given pain drugs and muscle relaxers. Next on the list was spinal injections and then the referral to the neurologists.

Then in the middle of my treatment my job required that I move. I checked in to my new VA medical center to continue my care. The new doctor saw my chart but could not send me directly to the neurologist, oh no, I had to first be seen by the physical therapists, more pain pills, spinal injections, etc. This is what the list says must be done, even though I had already gone through the list at the last hospital; it had to be done by "their" staff.

A year later I moved again to another VA hospital thousands of miles away. I checked in and through the modern miracle of computers my file was transferred and all was wonderful. Well, after another round of physical therapy, more drugs, spinals, etc. I was then able to see the neurologist who looked at my cat scans and pronounced that I had indeed ruptured two discs in my back and one in my neck. However, because the inter-spatial distance between the discs hdd not reduced to a specified dimension they were not allowed to operate to fix the problem. He could tell I was in pain and asked if I wanted more drugs? I asked if the operation would make it so I was no longer in pain and he assured me that in the majority of cases the procedure would remove or greatly diminish the pain I was feeling but he was not allowed to operate because of the procedures the government places on them. It is their position that pain can be mitigated by the use of drugs until such time as the patient's condition meets the requirements and that pain was not a factor as that could be controlled by drugs.

This same mentality will be entrenched with any universal healthcare system our government would create. It is the nature of governments to document every minutia of what transpires and the cost to implement and maintain such a system will be astronomical.

Currently in our society many people do not go to their doctor for common colds and sniffles. We go to the pharmacy and get our cold medicines, get plenty of rest, chicken soup, etc. However, if health care is "free" then why would you spend your own money on cold drugs? Just go to the universal health care clinic and get if for free. Heck every time someone stubs their toe they will be at the clinic for their free health care, just get in line. But we won't mind waiting because it's free and the staff won't care how they treat you, after all your not paying for it.

And those who do the right things, exercise, eat healthy, and take care of themselves will have to pay for the burden of those who abuse themselves and the system. Where is the right of these people to not be unjustly burdened with paying for someone else's abuse? Will the government then have to limit caloric intake of obese people? Well they have the police monitoring people to ensure they are not engaging in unsafe sexual acts or sharing needles that spread HIV? What rights do those paying for the "free" healthcare have to ensure their money is not being wasted?

If government takes over the health care industry what recourse do the citizen's have if something goes wrong? The government cannot be sued if it does not give its consent to be sued. Either we will end up with no recourse if they block law suits or the flood gates will open if law suits are allowed because the government would have nearly unlimited funds for the ambulance chasers to go after.

As far as rights go remember one thing the government does not grant rights it can only grant privileges and immunities. Universal Health care is a privilege; but as with Social Security, in time the public will accept it as a "right". Once it has Universal Health care has begun any politician would be committing political suicide to try and remove it once it has been instituted. This would result in a permanent entitlement, like Social Security, that will increase the national debt to record levels that will place future generations into debt servitude. As in the immortal words of President Ronald Reagan "a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth."

Not only is Universal Health care not a right, it is also something we cannot afford as a nation. Every nation where Universal Health care has been implemented it has been deemed a failure. Those that can afford to pay for private heath care do so or stream out of those nations to come to America to receive the health care they desperately need. The long waiting lists for certain life saving procedures literally has people dying while waiting for their turn. So they come to the only vestige of real health care left in the civilized world, America. Let's not screw it up.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lemieux

America's Healthcare Crisis - Steps Toward Solutions

2009-03-27T23:23:00.000-07:00

Just as with our current economic meltdown, we should have seen our healthcare crisis coming. America has the most expensive and yet not the best healthcare in the world. Certain forces have been at work to create this perfect storm. While plans have been proposed to increase access to health insurance and streamline information sharing by digitizing medical records, government has failed to identify some elephants in the room that need to be addressed.

Litigation

What distinguishes American healthcare from that of all other first-world nations is the prevalence of litigation. Medical tourism is burgeoning because patients recognize its enormous cost savings. The same surgery done abroad can be one-tenth of the U.S. price. Absence of potential litigation accounts for the difference. The cost of drugs in general, and vaccines in particular, are astronomical because litigation has been factored into the price. Physicians in America order far more tests than those in other countries because of the fear of litigation. Any effort by congress to control healthcare costs must begin with tort reform. There has to be a cap on malpractice and adverse drug effect settlements. Any new government sponsored insurance needs to require arbitration in lieu of litigation.

The Pharmaceutical Industry

Years ago, President Dwight Eisenhower warned the nation to beware of the military-industrial complex: the industry of war fuels the need to have more wars. A parallel can be seen in the pharmaceutical industry. Continual drug development with escalating cost is a self-perpetuating phenomenon. Antibiotic resistance is the pharmaceutical industry's best friend. New antibiotics with increasing potency are constantly being developed to overcome drug resistant bacteria. As soon as a new antibiotic becomes marketable, drug sales representatives generously supply doctors with the new drug. This drug should actually be used sparingly and for specific drug resistant infections, but because of the convenience, doctors frequently give away and prescribe the new antibiotic, it becomes widely used, and the result is more drug resistance requiring even newer drug development. Somehow, this kind of drug overuse has to be controlled.

The U.S. is the only country in the world that allows drug advertising. Choice of drugs should be left to the treating physician without the pressure of patient demand for the newest and most expensive version. Many new drugs are "me too" drugs, just slight modifications of older tried and true drugs. The difference is in cost, not efficacy. Advertising for non-prescription drugs constantly reinforces the notion that the only answer to any discomfort is a drug, a notion that has become as American as apple pie. Because of widespread advertisement, Americans unthinkingly take nonsteroidal antiinflammatories, which have potential serious side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney failure, for such non-life-threatening conditions as the common cold. Risk outweighs benefit in these cases. We need to revert to banning drug advertising.

Physician Behavior and Training

American physicians habitually order more tests than are necessary. Clinical guidelines based on research have helped assuage this wasteful behavior. For instance, years ago, research found that routine chest X-Rays were of no benefit for annual physical exams. Similar guidelines have been established for taking X-Rays for ankle sprains. Finding what are the most unproductive tests and establishing national guidelines for when to use them could help bring down cost.

The price of our technological progress is the loss of clinical skills among the current generation of physicians. In an article entitled The Demise of the Physical Exam (Jauhar 2006), the author, a professor of medicine, expresses the prevailing view among today's physicians: that the physical examination is "an arcane curiosity," performed as a ritual that preceded their real tool for problem-solving-- technology. For centuries, doctors have been taught to begin with a thorough history and physical examination followed by tests to finally arrive at the final diagnosis based on the total information gathered. The current method virtually eliminates the initial steps. Doctors perform a cursory history taking and physical exam, and then order the tests related to the patients' symptoms to obtain a diagnosis. With this method, I have witnessed not only excessive waste from unnecessary tests but also the misdiagnoses of common conditions such as small bowel obstruction, congestive heart failure, and appendicitis. This sea change in medical practice constitutes one major reason why American healthcare has become so expensive and yet less than satisfactory. There is a dire need to retrain physicians to return to basics. And the need is urgent because the medical trainers are losing the very skills they should be teaching.

Over half of the American public recognizes that the Western medical approach has limitations and seeks complementary and alternative care. Skeptics among the medical establishment scoff and explain away the trend by saying that these patients "weren't very sick to begin with." What they fail to recognize is that Western medicine, while having advanced treatments for advanced diseases, have far fewer remedies for early-stage disease, or, the "not very sick." Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that illness begins with some dysfunction in the host that causes him or her to succumb to disease. Unlike the Western approach, which focuses only on disease, Eastern medicine also strives to restore the patients' weakened function to regain health. Familiarity with this approach among primary care physicians could not only bring down healthcare cost but also enhance physician satisfaction with work. If the physician prescribed herbs for the common cold, there would be fewer cases of bronchitis, the leading condition for which antibiotics are overprescribed. If acupuncture or acupressure were first-line treatment for back pains and soft tissue inflammation, patients would improve. This would lead to fewer MRI's ordered and fewer surgeries performed. If acupuncture and herbal therapy were first-line treatment for infertility, it would eliminate the enormous cost of in-vitro fertilization in many cases. In the past decade, the insurance industry has begun to recognize that some forms of complementary care obviates far more expensive treatments such as surgery and are adding them to its covered benefits. It is time for government-sponsored insurances to awaken to this fact.

In the past decade, the number of medical school graduates entering family medicine and internal medicine training has dropped by half. The shortage of primary care doctors has led patients to overuse costlier secondary and tertiary care facilities such as emergency rooms and hospitals. Several factors account for physicians' disenchantment with primary care. Compensation is low when compared with specialty careers. Bureaucratic paper work is daunting. Often primary care physicians are frustrated because they have no means within the Western paradigm to treat common conditions. The very reason for entering the medical profession, to help heal and relieve pain and suffering appears unachievable, and they see themselves as mere triage agents. If these physicians were able to use complementary and alternative medicine, the gratification of seeing their patients actually improve would certainly boost their level of job satisfaction.

Other players are insurance and patients. The private insurance industry has recognized that prevention is more cost-effective than cure. Many offer prepaid health plans and cover routine physical examinations. Medicare, to date, retains its antiquated policy: coverage for disease and not prevention. It is time for Medicare to enter the 21st century. Patients used to pay the doctor directly for services. Now, usually a third party, the insurance pays. Now, no longer aware of costs, patients feel entitled. If they have insurance, every test and treatment should be covered. The media sensationalize such cases, portraying the patient as victims and insurance companies as demons for not covering exotic treatments that have a low prospect of cure. Such cases often result in litigation, of course, further driving up cost. It is time to educate doctors and patients alike about cost and to behave responsibly. Correct treatment requires correct diagnosis. This fundamental principle applies to finding solutions to our healthcare crisis.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Tsang

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Part D - Part 1

2009-03-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

While you are employed, you may have access to a drug benefit program. This is probably the most valuable benefit you will ever have, considering the high cost of prescription medication in the United States today. But once you retire the story changes. Few retired Americans have access to a drug plan, either because the plan is not available once you are no longer employed, or the cost of maintaining it is out of reach. One option you have is to enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Part D.

The government launched this initiative to respond to the escalating cost of medications. Because seniors as a group tend to use more medication than most others, it was thought to be a way to give seniors access to lower cost drugs. But, let's look more closely at some of the problems associated with Plan D.

Basically, as a senior you have been encouraged to purchase coverage in the Medicare plan. When launched, the government was hoping that a large majority of seniors would opt to join. They have found that that hasn't been the case. Unfortunately, this has led to a new problem. Because of limited enrollment, the cost of premiums is already relatively high and is projected to continue to keep rising. Not too comforting for a senior on a fixed income.

But even that probably wouldn't deter seniors from enrolling. At least then they wouldn't have to worry about paying for their medication and could budget for the premium cost. Well, that's not exactly how it works.

In addition to premiums, members of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan are also faced with co-pays. So while Medicare covers a lot of the cost, members must pick up the rest. On an expensive drug, this can amount to as much as $90. per prescription.

Drug prices through the plan rose about 9% on the fifteen drugs most prescribed to seniors. And this increase occurred in a single year. Price increases are expected to continue annually, although hopefully not to this degree. Now you may think this is not a real problem for the individual senior. But it does affect them in several ways.

For one thing, if Medicare is forced to pay more for prescription medication, they will have to pass these increases on to members in the form of premium increases, in order to maintain the viability of the program.

A second concern is that as costs increase, so does the amount paid out as a co-pay by individual plan members.

But probably the biggest reason for apprehension is related to the gap in coverage that occurs after a senior spends about $2400. on their prescriptions. This gap is reached much more quickly with drug prices on the rise.

In Part 2 of this article, we'll look more closely at the gap in coverage that is part of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Part D and how this gap is affecting seniors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_L.

Private EMS - The Step-Children of Public Safety?

2009-03-03T22:25:00.001-08:00

Anyone who has worked in EMS knows it. It's all over the news papers, on the TV and in the movies. You always hear "fire fighter this" and "rescue personnel that". Pictures in the news papers show several people in turnouts and one or two people in blue uniforms hovering around an accident victim. The title reads "fire fighters tend to victim of car accident". Public service ads run on the TV to support your local law enforcement and fire department. But what about the EMT's and Paramedics working for the private ambulance? Does anyone ever mention them? Does their hard work ever get recognized?

Obviously public recognition of EMS professionals working in the private sector is nowhere near the caliber of public entities. No one wants to make movies, tv shows and half-naked calendars about "those ambulance guys". But why is that? Why cant everyone share the spotlight?

You can blame the fire departments, you can blame the police, or you can blame the public, but the real answer lies within the EMS system.

Ambulance services do not operate like fire departments. For example; an ambulance shows up to the scene of an accident, loads the patient and leaves. All of the real work is done en route to hospital in the privacy of the patient care compartment. No cameras and no reporters. Fire departments on the other hand, have more work to do once the ambulance leaves. Their job does not stop with patient care. This leaves time for the news to show up and interview captains and battalion chiefs. If private ambulance providers were sitting on scene talking to the media, they would never get their jobs done.

As an EMT or a Paramedic, what would you do if a reporter showed up at the hospital and asked you what treatment you performed and how the patient turned out? Well if you enjoy having a job you tell them that you can't answer those questions due to privacy laws. The media knows this, so they don't bother.

I have worked in private ambulance for quite some time now. I have felt the frustration. I know what it feels like to think that nobody cares. Although something happened to change that. I got recognized for a call I responded to in 2007. I was interviewed several times on TV and in the news papers. They sent me to our state's capitol to meet legislators and receive the "Star of Life" award. It was a great experience, but at the same time it seemed like a bit much. Here I was getting all the credit, when the only thing I really did was be in the right place at the right time. Any reasonable paramedic would have run that call just like I did had they been there instead of me.

It was at this point that I realized that I don't do the job for the recognition. I know the value of my work and I know the impact I can have on peoples lives. All of us our here to do the same job. We help people in their time of need and get them to definitive care.

So in conclusion I say this. When you see other people taking credit for the work that you are doing, don't worry about it. The people you helped know exactly what you did and you know exactly what you did. That is all that truly matters.

Thank you for your time, and please e-mail me with any questions, comments or stories. Thank you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_Eddy

Digital Medical Imaging is Forever Changing the Medical Landscape

2009-03-03T22:25:00.000-08:00

Digital medical imaging is a field continuing to develop and grow in the world of healthcare. This is all in large part to advances in computer technology. Technology is expanding and constantly improving, especially true in the speed and quality of medical images. A great example of this in the field of cardiac care and how much treatment of the heart has improved thanks to cardiology PACS and the PACS archive systems in general.

It's a widely known fact that PACS and digital medical imaging has completely changed healthcare. If you look up any major disease from a mild fever to cancer, medical imaging will inherently be involved in the diagnosis or treatment of that sickness. Not only are diseases identified and diagnosed earlier, but the PACS archive gives more options for treatment. The PACS appliance is also being implemented to see if current treatment is working towards success and in some cases, medical imaging and scaleable PACS is being used to administer treatment.

Digital PACS archive provides doctors and specialists with a remarkable view of the body's inside structure and functioning without needing to cut the body. Imaging technologies such as ultrasound, CT, MRI, cardiology PACS, PET, and X-ray allows doctors and health professionals to perform a wide variety of minimally-invasive medical tests, treatments and procedures.

More and more health offices often, and mistakenly, cite cost issues as the main reason they haven't invested in this new ground-breaking technology. However, the techniques utilized from a digital imaging system such as a PACS archive system can replace expensive or painful surgical procedures. One example of this is when a patient suffers from a brain tumor. Previously, this patient would need to endure a painful procedure in which air was injected into their skull as they were rotated upside down. This is no longer the case thanks to MRIs and computed tomography scans stored on a PACS appliance.

Since, digital imaging through a PACS system is generally non-invasive; a patient would not need to stay in hospital for an extended period of time as they normally would after surgery. This alone saves a hospital a great deal of money. The cost savings of scaleable PACS are easy to identify thanks to the fact that hospitals and medical offices are beginning to split into specific sections with their own budgets.

Another way of getting around the high cost of digital medical imaging equipment is to implement mobile PACS appliance units which can be moved around. These PACS allow the equipment to be shared between hospitals and other offices within their network. This feature is indispensable as the size of the equipment shrinks but the size of the hospitals are continuing to increase.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Hemrick

Robotic Pharmacists - Drug Dispensing Made Easy

2009-03-03T22:24:00.000-08:00

Pharmacists have a tough job, aside from reading illegible prescriptions, and ensuring that only the right pharmaceutical drugs are dispensed, they have to constantly run around stockrooms looking for drugs. However, some pharmacies may have already found a solution in the form of robotic pharmacists.

Recently, a new set of robotic dispensers, christened as "robodispensers," were introduced at Leicester's hospitals' pharmacies. These robots are big machines, about eight meters in size, and are costly too, with each piece costing about US$ 463,530.

The New Age Dispensers

The new age pharmacists seem to be clever and efficient machines, as they can tirelessly work round the clock and not need even a cat's nap. They can accurately locate and dispense 700 medicines a day - 60 per hour, in addition to storing 25,000 packs of medicines.

When a pharmacy technician asks the robots to fetch a pack of a particular pharmaceutical - patent or a generic drug, the on-board computer swings into action, calculating where the medicines are stocked. Next, the picking head gets to right spot, and using a suction arm pulls the pack from the shelf. After which the pack find its way onto a conveyor belt and the drugs are delivered to the technician.

Bulky and pricey they may be, however they have a number of advantages over human pharmacists. For instance, they can save many pharmacists the pain of rushing about stockrooms in search of medicines, and they can better focus on ensuring that the right medicines are dispensed. Also, these robotic dispensers are highly accurate because rely on the barcodes on the prescription drugs packs to identify medicines, thus reducing errors. And, a reduced turn around time is yet another benefit.

Perhaps, reduced costs and widespread installations of such machines will take care of the woes of pharmacy technicians around the world.

Fred is a journalist with 7 years of experience. Though, as a professional He's reported on myriad topics, his favorite is the medical industry. Off late he's been working on different web portals including Themedica.com. Themedica is a comprehensive business-to-business (b2b) information portal and directory, featuring useful information for medical and health care industry professionals and businesses. It showcases resources such as trade shows, industry overviews, trade associations, global business listings, industry news, tenders, medical publications, informative articles and more that help professionals/businesses stay abreast with the latest and grow. He now blogs at Smiling Health

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Freddic_Clay

Health Care is Becoming More Accessible Thanks to Medical Tourism

2009-02-19T21:33:00.001-08:00

There are about 45 millions of Americans who does not have health insurance and it is due to the rising costs of medical care. According to the national coalition for health care, "In 2007 the total national health expenditures were expected to rise 6.9 percent - two times the rate of inflation. Total spending was $2.3 TRILLION in 2007, or $7600 per person. Total health insurance spending represented 16 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP)".

I suggest you to search for the movie Sicko from Michael Moore on your local video store and you will see how health insurance companies think about their customers, and you will see why you don't have the finest health system in the world as president Nixon said.

But some years ago something came up, something that started to care about those millions of Americans who needed surgical procedures that were not available because of the high costs or the long wait times. Something that even can make a reality the dream to have plastic surgery.

Medical tourism is traveling to another country to get medical treatment, and the main reason for people to go overseas for health care is the cost, but there are other reasons like the shorter wait times to get attention on the procedures you may need and the top notch medical facilities and expertise of doctors in countries like India, Thailand and Colombia.

Many doctors and so called specialist says that traveling outside the United States in search for health care involves a lot of risks, but I think that is more risky to try to get health care in a country where almost 15% of his population can't get access to health insurance just because it prohibitive costs. Don't misunderstand me, I think America is a great country one of the bests in the world, but hey about health care America got the 37th place just above Slovenia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Octavio_Herrera_Guardiola

Chemotherapy - Is This the Real Answer to Cancer?

2009-02-19T21:33:00.000-08:00

Before agreeing to treatment, it is important to know what your treatment is. With this in mind, I entered below the main form of treatment used to treat cancer:

Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy was developed after scientists realized that the deadly mustard gas used in World War II to kill people - Cyclophosphamide - could kill rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer. The chemotherapy was killing all rapidly dividing cells (Our T and B cells responsible for our immune system is also selective, since they divide rapidly).

Let's see what reputable scientists are saying about this product:

* Late Dr. Hardin Jones, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley in 1975 came to the conclusion after analyzing the statistics for survival of cancer for several decades that "patients are as well, or better, without trying."

* Dr. Charles Moertel of the Mayo Clinic in Baltimore said that the main drug of chemotherapy, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) only produces an objective response in 15 to 20% of patients. Even then, the improvements are only partial and temporary. This result is very poor outweighed by the toxicity of drugs and the disastrous emotional disturbances caused by side effects.

* A German epidemiologist Dr. Ulrich Abel studied most of the published reports on chemotherapy and wrote to a further 350 cancer centers and experts and said that "the success of most chemotherapy is terrible. There is no evidence its ability to expand in any significant way the lives of patients suffering from the most common cancer organic. " It also said that "when a tumor mass partially or temporarily disappear, the tumor cells that remain can sometimes grow much faster later. Often, patients do not respond to chemotherapy survive longer than those who do."

Dr. Abel also published the details of survival rates for patients with cancer treated with chemotherapy as follows:

* Bladder - There are no statistics available

* Mama - No evidence of an increase in life expectancy

* Cervical / uterine - No evidence of an increase in life expectancy

* Colorectal - No increase in life expectancy

* Gastric Cancer - No evidence of improvement

* Head & Neck - No improvement in life expectancy (tumors can be reduced)

* Ovary - No evidence of an increase in life expectancy

* Pancreas - More negative patients who were not treated

Depending on how it is used chemotherapy drug, side effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, potential damage to nerves and kidneys, hearing loss, seizures, bone marrow suppression, anemia, blindness, loss in motor function, thrombosis, mucositis, heart problems, the destruction of bile ducts, bone tissue death, restricted growth, infertility, decreased white and red cells, increased risk of leukemia (especially for women who received chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer), ovarian failure, early menopause, mal-absorption of lactose etc...

Chemotherapy often also destroys the patient's liver and kidneys with their harmful effects and negative attacks your immune system.

Mechlorethamine, one of the drugs used are so toxic that the medical staff that manipulation is recommended to use gloves and avoid inhaling it.

A reference to the medical staff advised the handling of chemotherapy:

Potential risks involved in handling cytotoxic agents have become a concern for health workers. The literature reports of various symptoms such as eye, membranes and skin irritation and dizziness, nausea and headaches experienced by health workers who do not use safe handling precautions.

In addition, increasing concerns about mutagenesis and teratogenesis [deformed babies] continue to be investigated. Many chemotherapy agents, alkylating agents, in particular, are known to be carcinogenic [cancer causing] in therapeutic doses.

Medical personnel handling these drugs are advised to use double latex gloves, masks, goggles and gown. Surprisingly, the needles used to inject the lethal drug that is classified as "hazardous waste"! Incredible when we are told that this drug will cure cancer ours.

The medical journal (Lancet 1998) stated that irinotecan, a chemotherapy drug only extends survival by about 3 months, but with many side effects.

Chemotherapy also is useless to help with liver metastases (Arch Med Res, 1998). However, it has been shown to enhance the lives of patients suffering from ovarian cancer for a few years and that of patients with lung cancer for a few months.

Treatment of Hodgkin's disease with chemotherapy has also shown positive results. However, girls treated this way also have a 35% chance of developing breast cancer in later life. All children treated this way are also 18 times more likely to develop secondary tumors.

As chemotherapy has been shown to be (1) carcinogens (2) immuno-suppressive (3) toxic (4) useless, why then is that doctors prescribe to maintain?

The answer is very simple: they do not know what else to do and who want to keep in line with what other doctors do. While most people know that chemotherapy has only a very small chance of success, believe that unless something prescribe, the patient will go elsewhere and, in most cases (for allopathic medicine), is prescribed chemotherapy . We have to understand that this is their training.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mars_Sente

Ultrasound Machines - What's This For?

2009-02-19T21:32:00.000-08:00

Most medical conditions and diseases are much less likely to be fatal than in decades past, thanks to advances in medial science. Medical diagnostics allow most disorders to be caught earlier, thus allowing treatment to begin more quickly and accurately. The popularity of ultrasound machines, which use high frequency sound waves to detect problems in patients' internal organs, has made rapid accurate diagnosis much easier.

Ultrasound machines have been especially helpful in diagnosing cardiac diseases. We know the criticality of heart in a healthy human body. In their initial stage, heart diseases can be cured through medicine and surgery. However, without a proper diagnostic tool, it was very difficult to ascertain a heart ailment earlier. Medical imaging of heart has drastically reduced the number of patients dying due to heart ailments.

Let us take a look at some of the workings of ultrasound machines. All machines have what is known as a transducer probe, which both emits and receives the ultrasound waves. Pulse controls are used to control the different wave properties of frequency, duration, and amplitude. Other components of the machines include a CPU, a mouse, a display, and a printer.

Ultrasound works by sending ultrasonic waves into the part of the body being examined. When interrupted by abnormal tissue such as tumors or the boundaries between tissues, the ultrasonic waves are reflected or echoed. The ultrasound machine calculates the distances traveled by those reflected waves to generate 2D images that display the distances and intensities of those echoes.

Internal organs can be sound through the aid of an ultrasound machine. A radiologist can use the machine's controls to view a specific section of any organ. Ultrasound scans are perfectly safe and have no side effects. Medical personnel can even use mobile machines in an emergency.

However, ultrasound imaging is still a medical procedure, and as such, should only be administered by a medical professional trained in radiology. A novice would not be able to properly interpret the results. Also, long term exposure to ultrasound waves has negative physical side effects, and an expert is necessary to regulate the equipment to avoid long term problems.

Ultrasound machines have given medical imaging diagnostics quite a boost since they have gained popularity. The ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to make visuals of internal organs and tissues. Since cardiac health is a top priority in maintaining overall health, the use of ultrasound has given doctors the jump on once-fatal conditions. Before ultrasound, it was virtually impossible to catch heart ailments before they progressed into more advanced, less curable stages. Since the advent of ultrasound, the number of patients who die of heart problems has decreased substantially. Ultrasound imaging is a medical procedure and therefore only a doctor trained in radiology should perform it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Martini

Will Medicare Cover the Cost of Mobility Aids Such As Mobility Scooters?

2009-02-06T22:27:00.001-08:00

There are millions and millions of people in our Country who suffer from disabilities on a level that few of us could imagine. With the aging of the baby boomers, who are the largest single age bracket ever in the US, comes the realization that the growth of people with disabilities will continue to increase year by year. Many people with disabilities have one concern and one concern only. And that's the mobility issue. Plainly put, 'how are they going to get around'? Through technology there has been the creation of mobility aids like electric wheelchairs, lift vans, and rollators.

One of the most expensive and popular forms of mobility aids is mobility scooters. This little device has been a godsend to many to be able to get around in a very practical manner. But because of the scooter's technological efficiency it can be rather costly.

So an important question many people with disabilities want to know is will Medicare cover the cost of mobility scooters?

More than likely Medicare will end of covering the expenses of mobility scooters. But it is demanded that you be able to exhibit a very legitimate need for one, medically speaking. And show the main use of the device to be to get around the home. So it can't just be something for your convenience outside the home like a grocery store or a movie theater.

You absolutely need to follow the steps below to ensure that Medicare covers the cost of your scooter.

Your Physician is the only one that can give you a prescription for the equipment. So do not even bother to order the mobility scooter until you have arranged an appointment with your doctor.
The doctor also must document your medical need for the mobility scooter. And put this in your medical records with a signed and dated prescription.

Then, this order must be received by your supplier of the device before Medicare is billed. And he must store it on file.

Now if you happen to receive your Medicare through a Medicare Medical Advantage Plan, like an HMO or PPO, it is likely you will have to follow that particular plan's steps to get approval for the mobility scooter. Be sure to call your plan's customer service to find out these details!!

Hope this information helps you in getting your mobility scooter!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Marsh

NHS Top-ups, the Healthcare System and Consumers

2009-02-06T22:27:00.000-08:00

The decision this week to allow NHS patients in England to top up their NHS care by paying for additional drugs, provided private treatments take place in private medical facilities, is a monumental one with far-reaching implications. Coming after about four months of consultation, the policy will automatically put an end to the old regime in which resorting to a private facility or drugs outside those authorised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) would result in one giving up access to NHS care.

Relying heavily on the need to improve access to medicines for NHS patients, Health Secretary Alan Johnson and National Cancer Director Professor Michael Richards made the new decision public.

In the period under which it was debated, various positions were advanced by experts of varying professional backgrounds, including medical practitioners who made clear their position that allowing the policy could weaken the health system rather than serve as a boost. And there were many others who felt it was high time NHS patients were allowed to supplement their care with private fee-paying treatments. In this case too, the need to strengthen the NHS was clearly articulated.

What are the likely implications of NHS top-ups?
One of the very first things that analyst have been clear about is that allowing NHS top-ups could result in many patients, especially those who can conveniently afford it, turn to private medical or health insurance at the expense of the NHS.

Let's not forget that some months ago, when the superbug issue dominated discourses everywhere in the country, many people wanted to opt for what they termed cleaner, superbug-free private medical facilities. Often, people in support of this position argued that the private healthcare attracts fewer people of less diverse backgrounds and are, therefore cleaner. The fact that it could mean paying a lot of money as opposed to the almost entirely free of charge services obtained from the NHS mattered, and still matters, less to these people.

But in fairness to many in this category the decision would allow a wider access to treatments, especially for people suffering such very serious illnesses as cancer. While unveiling it, Mr Johnson noted that: "It is an incredibly thorough report and I am accepting all of his recommendations." The health secretary went on to explain that the policy would lead to "greater clarity, a fairer society and wider access to treatment."

For many that worked round the clock to ensure its approval this is a sweet victory that comes with many advantages. And for those, like insurance companies, who did not make any obvious push towards it but silently prayed for it to see the light of the day, it's a dream come true.

This, perhaps, explains why some pundits were opposed to it from the consultation period up until now. Experts on this side of the argument still believe that the health system would be hugely undermined and the big insurance firms would be the winners.

Whether this will happen or not, the most important thing at the moment, especially for consumers, is to make the most of its advantages and avoid those flaws that would get them into trouble. Often, as in the case of most insurance policies, the essential thing to do is to try shopping and comparing deals as much as possible. With online comparison sites at our disposal all the time, we have no excuse not to find the deals that suit our needs most.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Musa_Aliyu

Supplemental Healthcare at Lower Costs

2009-02-06T22:26:00.000-08:00

Medical care as we all know is said to be in a way the undisputable "king of pampering" that our body demands. Medical care if not given due importance will prove to be the mental menace and physical trauma in every sense of the word. It is the uninvited guest that intrudes in our otherwise healthy lives without any warning. It is a well known fact that medical care eats away a significant portion of our hard earned money especially when we are negligent towards healthcare. The more we run away from medical care the sooner we get into a situation of falling sick and seeking medication which usually ends up on the higher side.

So when do we say that we are immune to perils of costly medical care? Is the healthcare plan that we possess enough for keeping our families safe from such threats? Is our healthcare plan rendering enough service for which it is meant to be? Are the healthcare plans apt for our medical needs? These are some of many questions that need to be posed against ourselves before extending the renewal of existing medical care plan or before proceeding for a new one. So why are we talking about healthcare plans and medical care all of a sudden? What's causing us to discuss about healthcare plans than ever before?

This is because of late there has been a great buzz in the healthcare space especially in providing quality supplemental healthcare to the large middle and lower class working population who as per estimates are largely found to be uninsured and under insured. Reasons may be many but the customer or the average citizen of America is definitely feeling the heat of costly medical care which unfortunately never shows signs of moving towards south. Some healthcare companies have succeeded in tapping the market of providing quality supplemental healthcare at lowest of low prices to the working class of America.

It is been possible through a meticulous business plan and agreement between the healthcare service provider and the healthcare company itself. The customized service combined with vast service provider network spread across America has made sure that these companies have a positive affect on every citizen of America. To top it all, the low start up fee and a very low monthly plan stands out among all the service features of these healthcare companies.

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Radiology Supplies - Making Medical Diagnostics Successful

2009-01-31T00:11:00.001-08:00

The pictures taken of the inside of your body by an x-ray technician help doctors pinpoint injuries and illnesses. A break in a bone can be seen. A shadow in the chest are may indicate pneumonia or even cancer. A blocked artery can be diagnosed and treated before it ever leads to heart failure. Compensation filters help techs get the clearest picture of the affected area.

The x-ray process seems fairly straightforward - push a button, take a picture, view results - but there is so much that goes into it behind the scenes. Film and development, special lighting in the dark room and handling of the films using cassettes, cleaning the equipment to keep it in tip-top condition - all of this takes place without the patient knowing much about it.

One of the key areas that patients don't think much about is protection. Upon situating for an x-ray, a patient's sex organs are covered with a lead-lined blanket. This is to protect them from sterility and other sexual and reproductive complications. Technicians avoid taking x-rays of pregnant women whenever possible.

There's more to radiology than just x-rays, though. Any mother can tell you the joy she felt when she was given her first ultrasound to hear her baby's heart. She'll probably also be able to tell you just how cold the wand was! That problem can be eliminated by using a warmer for your gel bottles. And sanitizing cleansing solution to clean the wand will remove the risk of spreading germs from patient to patient. It is these radiology supplies that make diagnostic imaging successful.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Lamb

Pediatric Office Equipment - Making a Pediatrician's Job Easier

2009-01-31T00:11:00.000-08:00

No one wants to think about children having to spend time in the hospital, but for millions of children every year, this is the reality. It is something that outs a strain on families, scares children, stresses parents, and presents a different set of challenges to hospital staff.

Keeping an infant or toddler still is something that every parent knows the difficulty of. For x-ray technicians and surgeons it is imperative that kids remain immobile. Equipment suppliers and technical consultants have worked to develop special equipment that helps keep young patients still for a procedure, be it an x-ray or stitches, facilitating the speed and ease with which a procedure can be completed. Keeping things moving at a faster pace helps eliminate stress on the young patient.

Of course, the obvious must be dealt with, too: Children are much smaller than other patients! This requires smaller stretchers, smaller back boards, smaller blood pressure cuffs - the list goes on. As with bariatric patients, equipment must be made to size for the littlest patients, too.

Then there is patient comfort to consider. Children appreciate things they can relate to: color, shapes, images of animals. Putting a little girl at ease for an exam is as simple as replacing the plain white exam gown with a colorful printed one. It makes them feel more involved in what is being done to them, and makes them more cooperative. Pediatricians can make the effort to have printed roll paper for their exam tables that can help distract toddlers during checkups. Pediatricians have a vast array of pediatric supplies at their disposal to make their daily routine easier.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Lamb

Social Security Disability - 5 Tips Before You Apply

2009-01-31T00:10:00.000-08:00

Applying for Social Security Disability or SSI is not simply an event--it is a process and a commitment. There are loads of paperwork, phone calls, medical visits and medical records, and you'll probably be denied once or twice (or more!). Your disability application is the first step in the process, and not one to be taken lightly. Before you apply, there are 5 things you should understand first.

Tip #1: Don't take shortcuts.

You may be tempted to do whatever is quickest and easiest when it comes to providing information in your disability application and in your interview. This is a big mistake. Do the extra work to gather every detail you possibly can, and make sure your case worker at the SSA has everything BEFORE your interview. Don't give Social Security any reason to put your file on the shelf--a quick decision, even if it is a denial, is actually a good thing. Why? Because of tip #2.

Tip #2: Expect a denial.

Is this pessimistic? Not really. Most disabled applicants are denied at first, and many are quite obviously disabled. In fact, statistics show that many are denied at the next level as well. If you expect this and plan accordingly, you will be prepared to appeal as soon as the disability denial comes. If you are one of the lucky few who are approved immediately, congratulations. If not, appeal quickly and get your disability claim considered again as soon as possible. The point in the disability process where you have the best chance of being approved is at the hearing level.

Tip #3: Get your own medical records.

Social Security will tell you not to worry about getting your medical records, because the workers will do that for you. I suggest that you do not allow Social Security to request all of your medical information, for three reasons:

One, doctors are often intimidated by the formal requests Social Security sends, and they feel like their license may be in question if they give too strong a recommendation for you. Thus, only about 50% of doctors actually send records in to Social Security, leaving many disability claims without the necessary medical evidence.

Two, when Social Security requests records, it usually takes much longer to get them back and processed. This means you are waiting longer than you should.

And three, getting your own medical records allows you to speak with the doctor about your disability claim. Ask him or her about your ability to work, any restrictions he or she recommends, and ask if he or she would complete a medical questionnaire with questions specific to Social Security's medical requirements. If the doctor is supportive, he or she will be happy to provide you with all the paperwork you need. If not, you'll know it is time to find another doctor.

Tip #4: Get financial backup.

Since the process of applying for disability or SSI takes so long, you may want to have a backup plan for awhile. Do not wait until you are homeless to apply for Social Security benefits. Check with family members and friends, and be prepared to sell assets or use your savings, if applicable.

If your electricity or heating is being turned off, you are being kicked out of your home, you can't afford direly necessary medications, or your life is threatened by your disability, let Social Security know immediately as they may be able to expedite your case. If your situation is extremely dire, you can always contact your state representative and ask them to contact Social Security regarding your disability claim.

Tip #5: If you are applying for SSI and are working, watch your paycheck.

If you are able to work a little, Social Security will be watching to see if you can meet SGA, or Substantial Gainful Activity. This is an income limit that is dependent on a few different variables. Ask your case worker what your current limits are, as they increase every year. If you meet or exceed SGA, your application will automatically be denied. If you have already been approved, caution is even more important--your benefits will be discontinued and you may have to pay Social Security back.

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Operating Room Equipment - Keep Your Surgical Suite Updated

2009-01-22T23:31:00.000-08:00

A typical operating room has a wealth of devices designed to keep patients immobile, safe and comfortable during surgery. It contains equally as much equipment for the benefit of surgeons, from special glasses that give a nearly microscopic view of tiny blood vessels to limb extensions which provide an extended mini-theatre for surgical repairs.

Arm and leg guards provide a firm, reliable surface for surgeons, who must often lean across a patient's extremities to perform surgery. The arm guards also stabilize IV, or anesthesia lines, while arm and leg guards insure a patient's limbs won't slide off the table under anesthesia.

One of the most essential pieces of equipment in an operating room is a surgical loupe, which come as one-piece units or eyeglass clip-ons, allowing surgeons to magnify an area they are working on.

Equally as vital in close, delicate work is the wrap-around magnifier and light, which - when worn - offer not only close viewing but added illumination for those same delicate procedures.

Anesthesia screens are set up over the patient's body to block the operating site from the anesthesiologist's work area, reducing the spread of infection and eliminating a source of distraction to surgeons and surgical nurses.

Hand, arm and limb positioners extend individual portions of the body beyond the operating table, allowing surgeons to do intricate work on elbows, for example.

Gel pads in either table-length or partial length, provide patient comfort and support during lengthy procedures while under local anesthesia, and provide perineal cutouts for surgical procedures in the vaginal or anal area.

Patients will likely never see many of this operating room equipment, but their importance to surgeons and surgical staff is inestimable.

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Medical Lighting - Shedding Light to Make the Proper Diagnosis

2009-01-22T23:30:00.000-08:00

Nowhere else in the world is precise procedural lighting more important than in medicine. Electrical component welds can be repaired, architectural drawings corrected, but a faulty diagnosis or improper incision can lead to a poor prognosis for patients and complications for doctors.

Medical lighting is not simply illumination but, in some instances, a spectrum of light that allows levels of color rendition not possible under ordinary, fluorescent light. This is equally as important in the office of a general practitioner, who uses it to determine skin color and tone as a measure of health, as it is in a specialist's office, where change in the color of a mole or lesion may signal the need for immediate treatment.

In emergency rooms, where project or target lighting allows physicians to determine the extent of injuries, well-engineered lighting that can be easily moved from room to room provides an ideal solution at an affordable cost. In outpatient surgery clinics, a wall-mounted magnifying light that moves to exact positioning, and remains there, allows surgeons to perform delicate biopsies without the interruption of constantly adjusting the lighting source.

Portable, hand-held UV lights are ideal for diagnosing skin diseases. Normal skin will not fluoresce under UV light, but fungal or bacterial infections will, giving the clinician an instant diagnosis. UV lights are also useful for examining blood vessels or potential infection in the eye without blinding the patient.

In dental surgeries, lighting is second in importance only to the skill of the surgeon, and Halux lights, which provide brilliant, heat-filtered light, offer a safe and comfortable alternative to other flexible lighting solutions, which can become dangerously hot and even burn skin if surgeries are difficult and prolonged.

Precise, medical lighting, with built-in durability and versatility, enhances any surgical suite, dermatological practice, dental clinic or obstetrician's office by providing accurate, intense, task-specific lighting that allows the most delicate operations to proceed without interruption.

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Patient Transfer Equipment - Getting the Patient There Safely

2009-01-22T23:29:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, getting from point A to point B is half the battle. Patients that are immobile often have a hard time arriving at their desired destination. Durable patient transfer equipment can mean the difference between living with an illness and finding a proper diagnosis.

Regardless of the reason for immobility, all medical patients need a way to visit their physician with ease. Wheelchairs that can withstand a vast amount of weight help patients to move around homes, hospitals, sidewalks, and corridors without a constant struggle.

Once a patient arrives at a medical facility, the transference from a wheelchair to a medical table can also be a difficult challenge. For these moments, transfer boards that come in numerous sizes and widths provide both medical professionals and patients with a way to get through an examination without any amount of awkward maneuvering.

Patient lifts can also help medical staff to effectively weigh and move a patient without any struggle on the patient's part. Hospitals, clinics, and offices that are outfitted with this equipment will find that assisting patients is not a difficult thing to do. After all, the most important part of any patient examination is the overall comfort and ease of the actual patient.

Bariatric, geriatric, and disabled patients can all benefit from quality lifts and proper patient transfer equipment. Dealing with any kind of immobilizing disability on a daily basis is hard enough... it shouldn't have to be impossible for those that cannot walk to visit a physician for treatment and diagnosis.

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Some Ethical Issues in Health Care - Requirements and Treatments

2009-01-07T22:36:00.000-08:00

When it comes to health care ethical issues, there are almost as many ethical issues as there are health issues to be treated. There are laws in place to direct the behavior of almost every person in the health care personnel chain, from the nurse to the nurses aide who assists them and the doctor who ultimately gets to try and make the decisions to treat within the confines of the insurance system ruling over the life of the patient in question.

There are ethical issues that are clearly defined, such as the requirements for treatment decisions when a patient has a Medical Power of Attorney or a Living Will. Then there are thealth care ethical issues that don't have such clearly defined areas, such as whether it is allowable to withhold a possible lifesaving treatment from a patient only because their insurance will not pay for it.

Health care providers must make their treatment decisions based on a great many determining factors, perhaps the most constraining of which is the insurance reimbursement regime. If doctors and other health care providers could just treat their patients and have only that to worry about, what a wonderful world it would be. But doctors have to constantly worry about whether or not they and possibly the facility where they practice will be paid by the insurance companies. The next most important factor which affects health care providers ability to provide the care patients truly need is whether or not the patient has been truthful with the information they have given to the health care provider, and whether or not they have had access to health care to establish and maintain their health care needs.

Ethical concerns also come into play with patients whose family constellations are unclear. A patient who has a spouse has a straightforward next of kin when decisions have to be made. When a patient is separated from their spouse, and even perhaps has a new significant other, the next of kin can be much more difficult to determine, and protecting all health care providers-doctors, hospitals, etc from the liability risk of allowing the person who does not have a legal right to make decisions for a patient is a necessity. The health care ethical issues presented by these kinds of situations are very delicate.

One important ethical concern in health care is the need to protect oneself from the very real danger of the transmission of communicable diseases in bodily fluids. Especially in cases where a patients history is not available, health care providers have the right and the responsibility to protect themselves from viruses and bacteria that may be present in the body fluids of patients to which they are exposed taking care of these patients. However, this must be balanced with the possibility of making patients feel accused or uncomfortable by these same protective measures.

One last important health care ethical issues, especially in this day in age, is the protection of private, personally identifying information. Patients records used to be kept in public places where almost anyone could read them-filing pockets outside their doors, for instance. This kind of situation is not longer allowed, and records are more closely guarded nowadays, and many hospitals now rely on records kept entirely on computers.

Ethical issues are a part of almost every field, but health care has a special place in the system, where people are trusted with making those who are sick feel better, those who are injured able to return to their prior lives, and those who have chronic conditions and those who love them more able to cope with the demands of living with those conditions.

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World Elderly Health Problem - What's Happening to Our Health Care Systems?

2009-01-07T22:33:00.000-08:00

There is a major concern for the elderly in this day and age. The nursing homes are over populated, and the staff is at an all time low. The elderly just don't have the care available today that they did years ago. This problem affects the health of the elderly as well. If conditions are not up to standard in these facilities, then the elderly person's health will suffer.

Another problem the elderly face today is medicare benefits. Medicare doesn't pay what it used to, and many people are forced to suffer with their health problems without always being able to seek treatment. This is a world elderly health problem. If we don't do something now to improve this situation, then things will continue to spiral out of control, leaving us in rough shape for the future. Social Security is already a concern for many people. They wonder if they will receive any benefits at all when they retire. With the cost of health care rising every year, the future looks bleak indeed.

There are some cultures who don't put their elderly parents in nursing homes, they take them into their own homes and care for them, as long as they are able to. They drive their parents to their doctor appointments and other places, thus avoiding the need for care vans or meals on wheels. If everyone did this, the world elderly health problem would not be nearly as catastrophic as it is today.

By time the baby boomers are well into retirement, there will be even more elderly people in the world, thus the problem of poor care will escalate. The prices that todays nursing homes require is nearly unaffordable. It would be cheaper for the elderly to spend a few years on a cruise ship than it would be to pay the astronomical price of an elderly facililty. This is a widely known humorous look at elderly care, but sadly, it is true. Nursing homes charge more per week than it costs to take an all-inclusive cruise. Some even joke that if you pass away while you're on the ship, they could just toss you over the side, and that's about as cheap a funeral as you can get.

It's sad to think about the future for the elderly. And if the health care costs continue to skyrocket, then the world elderly health problem won't go away anytime soon. It has become necessary for people in their midlife to start saving money for their retirement facility, rather than starting to save their money so they can go on vacation after they retire. It might be a better idea to do all your traveling while you are in good health, and worry about the nursing home after you have spent all your money.

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A Smart Way to Avoid Healthcare Expenses

2008-12-24T04:36:00.001-08:00

When was the last time we jumped the fencing wall of our backyard without bothering about our back pain? When was it that we made that daring leap forward to cross the pot hole in our street without worrying about the muscle pull that can occur? It all seems like we pulled of these great adventures (so to say) in our previous life. Now that's something to corner us before we come up with the usual reasons and excuses. With the lifestyles that everyone is forced to lead through occupational compulsions, every one of us is prone to lower back pains, headaches and high blood pressures collectively called Chiropractic problems. Some of us don't even realize that they come under diseases list. Leave alone the elders who are naturally prone to chiropractic problems for obvious reasons but of late, younger generation falling under the age group of 18 -30 years are portraying a very grim and unhealthy picture forcing not only governments but also non-profit organizations to give a serious thought in eradicating this menacing problem.

Given a chance, who wouldn't want to play a second innings in figuring out the problems and lead an energetic life. Many of us have been spending huge sums of money towards curing these chiropractic problems. Very few are smart enough to keep these at bay by doing regular exercises and by following strict diet regime. But what about the others who always find themselves in the majority lot (usually for wrong reasons) like this one. We don't even take the pain of knowing about what is good for our body for staying fit. For people like us, thankfully some healthcare companies have come forward with their evolutionary products in the field for curing chiropractic problems. Now these so called youth of 18-30 years have got a chance to resurrect their mediocre lives by heeding to the expert advice that these healthcare companies have to offer. Some of these healthcare companies have come forward to help people suffering from chiropractic problems through their large range of products and large provider network base.

These healthcare companies provide excellent customer service and support whilst curing chiropractic problems by experts (called chiropractors) with attractive individual and family packages in place. The chiropractors are widely spread across geographical locations, working in tandem with the healthcare companies. This business strategy has proved successful in bringing together the chiropractors and the healthcare companies working for a business goal. The spotlight here is on providing quality supplemental healthcare through a large member base benefited by reasonable discounts. Whenever a member makes a visit to the chiropractor who is a partner of the healthcare company he/she actually is paying half of the charges that these chiropractors usually charge outside. These healthcare companies are able to draw such huge member base because of the services they offer. To mention a few, a typical member of the healthcare plan is entitled to lucrative offers like minimum startup monthly fee which is again customized as per the needs of the customer. A free consultation for the very first visit made to the chiropractor so on and so forth. We are living in an age where each visit to the physician or healthcare expert in healthcare industry is calculated in terms of money. So, a person with a little common sense wouldn't want to let go this opportunity. Such lucrative offers are definitely for the taking and should be encouraged with open arms.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nithya_Srp

Medical Services at an Affordable Price

2008-12-24T04:36:00.000-08:00

Is there any creature leading life without taking medicines now-a-days? We can bet there won't be many who say yes to it. Our legs involuntarily go to a pharmacy or to a doctor for some trivial things as headache or common cold. Taking pills has become such a fad that it has become a part of colloquial language and how often did we hear someone say "take a chill pill". Whatever may be the reason, the real beneficiaries are definitely the healthcare industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Taking advantage of our addiction to pills and medical care, in broader perspective, are the hospitals and the depending ancillary industries.

It is a well known fact that the hospitals with the clout that they possess manage to rope in the who's who in the medical care industry for expensive prices. The price of maintaining the physicians and other staff is ultimately transferred to the customer. For years the customer had been and still is bearing the brunt of costly medical care. But of late, there have been few healthcare companies who are creating a buzz in the industry through a lot of path breaking healthcare products. One of them has actually concentrated on providing quality supplemental healthcare to all income groups for nominal rates. These are truly nominal to their claim since they offer medical care spanning from as less as $19.95 to not more than $200 for individuals and family segments. There is a great business strategy behind concentrating on providing quality supplemental healthcare keeping in view the gaps in providing door step service to the customers. These health care companies in a way have struck right cord in identifying such gaps in providing customized medical care service. To achieve this, they have tied up with the big guns existing in medical care service industry spread across the nation.

From the service provider perspective they are getting the business without putting any effort or spending a single pie. The members of these medical care plans check for themselves about a nearest located service provider. The members get the discounts up to 80% of their expenses and can even avail free telemedicine service. These are absolute boon for the middle class working population who are the frequenters as far as medical care is concerned and the service providers are more than glad to render medical care service.

The service providers in their pursuit of building their brand value don't mind in putting that extra effort in providing perks like free dental, visual and chiropractic check-ups. For further information, please visit http://www.health-dental-discount-plans.com

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6 Easy Steps to Create a Personal Health Record

2008-12-24T04:34:00.000-08:00

The first thing that you should do is collect all your health records from your different healthcare providers. This includes your general practitioners, eye doctor, dentist, and any other specialist you go to.

Here are a few easy steps for you to create your own PHR:

1.) Contact your doctors office and medical records staff at each location that you receive care. Request copies of your electronic medical record and ask the medical records staff or physician which parts of the record you need. Call the customer service department if you want the medical records kept by your health plan.

2.) Complete the "authorization for release of information" form from the medical facility. This will allow you to gain access to the records. Remember, it may take up to 60 days to receive your medical records so plan ahead.

3.) Choose which method to store your information. You have a choice on which platform to store your medical information. You can store in a physical paper file, electronically via the internet, or digitally via a CD that you can carry with you. The are PHR tools available online that you can use. Some are free and others require a subscription fee to use.

4.) Store the information. Depending on the method you use, you can store the information in a physical disk or paper file. Type or write the information into the completed PHR.

5.) Keep adding and updating the PHR with each successive visit to a healthcare facility.

6.) Keep your information safe and protected. Let your trusted family members know that it exists but beyond that keep it safe.

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Did Palmetto Gba Broke The Medicare Payment System?

2008-12-08T02:59:00.000-08:00

It all started on September 1, 2008 when Palmetto GBA took over the Medicare contract from NHIC to process claims and payments for providers. This marked the beginning of a plethora of problems and massive frustrations for thousands of Medicare billing providers. Payments have been delayed for months causing financial hardships to many Medicare billing providers and healthcare facilities. To date, the bureaucratic nightmare of red tape and rejected claims saga continue with no end in sight.

Weeks into the transition, Palmetto GBA was overwhelmed with phone calls which they did not anticipate. Medicare billing providers encountered constant busy signals and when they did get through, they are either sent to a full mailbox where they cannot leave messages. Another tactic is a representative would take down their numbers with the promise to call back but only to never to be heard from again. Those who do get through faced wait times of as much as three hours to six hours and this happened in all departments from Claims, EDI, to Medicare Provider Enrollment.

Fortunately, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicare CMS) finally intervened and convinced Palmetto GBA to add more phone lines and staff and extend call in hours. However, new staff presents new problems such as training issues. There have been reports of staff telling Medicare providers they are not trained to handle certain problems and/or passing off the call to another department which resulted in more waiting time.

Aside from call center backlog, there are a multitude of other problems including a failed conversion of the NPI crosswalk file that mysteriously dropped off 25% of Medicare providers from the list to the backlog of over 26000 pending providers' applications. Medicare codes and modifiers that have been previously accepted by NHIC are now being rejected for different reasons. One common response is the Medicare coverage database is being updated and simply to resubmit the claims after the update.
Another major problem is the IVR (interactive voice response) system for obtaining Medicare patients' eligibility. It is not voice activated and poorly configured. In contrast to the old NHIC system that used to take approximately one to two minutes for a Medicare patient eligibility, it now takes six to seven minutes more.

On a brighter note, Palmetto GBA and Medicare CMS has been made aware of the problems and are working to solve them along with physicians and medical associations groups across the board. Medicare CMS also has a financial hardship program for which some providers may be qualified to get thru this bureaucratic maze.

So did Palmetto GBA break the Medicare payment system? Only time will tell.
Conversion pains usually will pass and hopefully the rocky start is not a sign of how this ‘Partner in Excellence’ will be servicing this contract and the Medicare community at large.

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