What are your thoughts on the emerging trend of "Concierge" or "boutique" medicine?
In this new emerging trend, doctors are reducing the size of their practice so that they may spend more quality time with their patients and their families. The physicians are reducing their practice by charging an annual fee to patients that is in addition, in most cases, to their health insurance. Companies like https://www.mdvip.com/Corporate/index.aspx have created a new specialty called "personalized" or "boutique" medicine. This is a more personal and somewhat more proactive form of medicine. Who stands to benefit from this emerging trend?
Wealthier patients benefit while the typical http://www.medicare.gov/ patient or the typical senior on a limited budget , can probably only afford a http://www.medicarehmo.com/ or may have problems finding a non HMO doctor willing to take them on as new patients.
How does this new trend affect you ? Write to us and let us know from either the patient or the physician perspective? Is this better medicine? Why do you think this new trend has emerged? Do you think that this trend has a negative or a positive impact on health care?
Friday, September 15, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Did you know that pets have health insurance in Sweden?
In Sweden, a country that has government sponsored, universal health care for it's human citizens, 30% of dogs have private medical insurance.
If you are concerned about the 45 million people in the US that do not have medical insurance for their medical care, you dont have to worry about Swedish dogs...they are covered...and regardless of their pedigree.
If you are concerned about the 45 million people in the US that do not have medical insurance for their medical care, you dont have to worry about Swedish dogs...they are covered...and regardless of their pedigree.
Seborrheic Dermatitis is common scaling redness and dandruff of scalp, new treatment just approved!
There is yet another treatment approved for the common condition Seborrheic Dermatitis. Seborrhea, often called, dandruff, causes redness, scaling and itching in scalp, ears and face.
FDA recently approved Xolegel (ketoconazole) 2% gel..It is a waterless gel approved for once daily application and has been shown to be as effective as potent topical steroids for the common symptoms of seborrhea but with less side effects.
If you are on potent steroids for seborrhea, ask your doctor about this new medicine, Xolegel, it may be more effective and less risky.
(The author has no financial interest in the company that makes Xolegel)
FDA recently approved Xolegel (ketoconazole) 2% gel..It is a waterless gel approved for once daily application and has been shown to be as effective as potent topical steroids for the common symptoms of seborrhea but with less side effects.
If you are on potent steroids for seborrhea, ask your doctor about this new medicine, Xolegel, it may be more effective and less risky.
(The author has no financial interest in the company that makes Xolegel)
New oral medication for rosacea
FDA recently approved a new oral medication for Rosacea. It is called Oracea and is a 40 mg capsule of doxycycline monohydrate...
This is a traditional oral antibiotic used for the common condition Rosacea, ("WC Fields Nose"), redness and flushing of the face, pimples and blood vessels on cheeks and nose.
The advantage with this new formulation is a lower side effect profile since the medication is a much lower dose than traditionally used. Most dermatologists prescribe 100 mg of Doxycycline (doryx) or minocycline (Minocin), however, this new lower dose has a reduced side effect profile but still effective.
Ask your dermatologist about Oracea.
(The author has no financial interest in the company that makes Oracea)
This is a traditional oral antibiotic used for the common condition Rosacea, ("WC Fields Nose"), redness and flushing of the face, pimples and blood vessels on cheeks and nose.
The advantage with this new formulation is a lower side effect profile since the medication is a much lower dose than traditionally used. Most dermatologists prescribe 100 mg of Doxycycline (doryx) or minocycline (Minocin), however, this new lower dose has a reduced side effect profile but still effective.
Ask your dermatologist about Oracea.
(The author has no financial interest in the company that makes Oracea)
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
How much is healthcare connectivity worth?
Health Affairs put the value of a "fully standardized" health information exchange at $77.8 billion ANNUALLY, while the Rand Corp said a wired healthcare industry would create a savings of $162 billion ANNUALLY. Obviously there is a lot of waste in this field and a lot that technology could do to help...
What can you do? tell your doctor or hospital administrator to go digital.
Tell United Health Care and Cigna and Aetna and the Blues to tell their doctors that there can be financial incentives if they digitize their offices and practices... You can make the difference but doctors cannot singularly carry the cost burdens of this transformation... they should receive significant incentives to do this...and that can only be effectively communicated and requested by you, the healthcare consumer, on behalf of the doctor..As the doctors already lost all the financial fights to the United Health Care of the worlds..
Start by digitizing yourself, your own health care.. your parents and your children.. it is better medicine.. http://www.PassportMD.com can do this for you.
What can you do? tell your doctor or hospital administrator to go digital.
Tell United Health Care and Cigna and Aetna and the Blues to tell their doctors that there can be financial incentives if they digitize their offices and practices... You can make the difference but doctors cannot singularly carry the cost burdens of this transformation... they should receive significant incentives to do this...and that can only be effectively communicated and requested by you, the healthcare consumer, on behalf of the doctor..As the doctors already lost all the financial fights to the United Health Care of the worlds..
Start by digitizing yourself, your own health care.. your parents and your children.. it is better medicine.. http://www.PassportMD.com can do this for you.
What are patients perceptions of safety in health care?
A recent survey of 1500 households.. asked "What comes to mind when you think about patient safety issues in the healthcare environment?"
28% said NOTHING.
20% said exposure to infection.
13 % said patient care received.
11 % said qualifications of healthcare professionals
8% said getting the right treatment
The same survey asked "How likely or unlikely do you think your risk of encountering a medical mistake in the following health care settins or situations?
30% said it was "very likely" to occur at a Nursing Home, while 14% said it was "very likely" to occur at a hospital. 6 % said it was "very likely" to occur at the doctors office or the pharmacy.
28% said NOTHING.
20% said exposure to infection.
13 % said patient care received.
11 % said qualifications of healthcare professionals
8% said getting the right treatment
The same survey asked "How likely or unlikely do you think your risk of encountering a medical mistake in the following health care settins or situations?
30% said it was "very likely" to occur at a Nursing Home, while 14% said it was "very likely" to occur at a hospital. 6 % said it was "very likely" to occur at the doctors office or the pharmacy.
Digital Medical Records -Is your doctor or hospital ready to fork over the cash to do this?
Recently, a group of hospital executives was surveyed as to the most likely benefit of digital health care, digital health records, electronic medical records, and the most compelling benefit of digitization of health care was patient safety according to these executives.
But , is that enough for these hospitals to invest dollars to make these changes a reality?
Are hospitals listening to their hospital executives?? This author thinks they are .. although slow to pull the trigger, I do think, hospitals "get it" and will "get it" by moving from paper charts to digital paperless hospitals.. it is simply better medicine..
Oh, by the way , did I mention that they may also be motivated b the bottom line as it also helps operational efficiency, reimbursement management, consumer impact, physician recruitment, competive advantages, regulatory compliance and not to mention... revenue growth..
But , is that enough for these hospitals to invest dollars to make these changes a reality?
Are hospitals listening to their hospital executives?? This author thinks they are .. although slow to pull the trigger, I do think, hospitals "get it" and will "get it" by moving from paper charts to digital paperless hospitals.. it is simply better medicine..
Oh, by the way , did I mention that they may also be motivated b the bottom line as it also helps operational efficiency, reimbursement management, consumer impact, physician recruitment, competive advantages, regulatory compliance and not to mention... revenue growth..
The top 10 Drugs Associated with Medication Errors
Do you know which meds most commonly are associated with medication errors?
here they are:
1. Insulin
2. Albuterol
3. Morphine Sulfate
4. Potassium Chloride
5. heparin
6. Cefazolin
7. Warfarin (coumadin)
8. Furosemide (Lasix)
9. Levofloxacin
10. Vancomycin
Are you or have you ever been on these medications?
Do you keep an accurate record of your medications? what about for you parents or your children?
There is an automatic wizard that creates your medication list, dosage, frequency and organizes it, makes it legible and is always accessible at http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com or
visit http://www.PassportMD.com
here they are:
1. Insulin
2. Albuterol
3. Morphine Sulfate
4. Potassium Chloride
5. heparin
6. Cefazolin
7. Warfarin (coumadin)
8. Furosemide (Lasix)
9. Levofloxacin
10. Vancomycin
Are you or have you ever been on these medications?
Do you keep an accurate record of your medications? what about for you parents or your children?
There is an automatic wizard that creates your medication list, dosage, frequency and organizes it, makes it legible and is always accessible at http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com or
visit http://www.PassportMD.com
United health care we stand, United health care we fall
Where do you stand on healthcare issues? Should the government pay more or less of the citizens of the United States?
What about the cost of medicine ? What about the cost of errors and adverse events in medicine?
is United health Care or Aetna or Cigna or the Blues... really looking out for your best interests? or are they cherry picking the best and healthiest insureds?
should healthcare services that help reduce errors in medication, errors in treatment and diagnoses be paid for by the government or reimbursed by health insurance companies? Services that allow you to create your own health record , decide what you want to keep in it, decide who you want to see it, help you get your doctors notes, help you organize your medications... these services found at http://www.PassportMD.com are meant to empower you, the healthcare consumer, to make educated choices regarding healthcare, regarding United Health Care, Cigna, and Aetna....
You should have the power, as you are the consumer.. and healthcare is just another product... you should be able to select your own doctor.. easily get your notes from one to another.. share or not share you medical history...You should be able to easily shop and compare healthcare facilities and health care plans such as United health care or Cigna Health or Aetna or the Blues... You are the one paying the bill either directly or through taxes for the medical care , you and your loved ones receive...
How easy is it to understand the true costs of your hospital services... ??
How much Senior Citizen Information Service do you receive regarding your medical care?
What about the cost of medicine ? What about the cost of errors and adverse events in medicine?
is United health Care or Aetna or Cigna or the Blues... really looking out for your best interests? or are they cherry picking the best and healthiest insureds?
should healthcare services that help reduce errors in medication, errors in treatment and diagnoses be paid for by the government or reimbursed by health insurance companies? Services that allow you to create your own health record , decide what you want to keep in it, decide who you want to see it, help you get your doctors notes, help you organize your medications... these services found at http://www.PassportMD.com are meant to empower you, the healthcare consumer, to make educated choices regarding healthcare, regarding United Health Care, Cigna, and Aetna....
You should have the power, as you are the consumer.. and healthcare is just another product... you should be able to select your own doctor.. easily get your notes from one to another.. share or not share you medical history...You should be able to easily shop and compare healthcare facilities and health care plans such as United health care or Cigna Health or Aetna or the Blues... You are the one paying the bill either directly or through taxes for the medical care , you and your loved ones receive...
How easy is it to understand the true costs of your hospital services... ??
How much Senior Citizen Information Service do you receive regarding your medical care?
health care and Senior Citizen information services
The purpose of this blog is to inform people about health care. Our efforts are aimed at KeepSeniorsHealthy by promoting and empowering consumers in health care.
For example, what are the stats on adverse incidents in health care?
Here they are (according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Clinical Decision Support:Improving Saftey, Efficiency and Quality of Care, December 2005;
1. in 15 inpatient admissions includes a significant adverse drug event
2. Adverse drug events occur in up to 18% of ambulatory patients
3. 6 percent of admissions are caused by an adversed drug event
4. Preventable medication errors cost $2 billion annually
5. Poor medication utilization costs another $27 billion.
What can you do? visit http://www.PassportMD.com or visit http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com so that you can use their wizard to create your medical record with your medications, organized, legible and accessible from anywhere.
For example, what are the stats on adverse incidents in health care?
Here they are (according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Clinical Decision Support:Improving Saftey, Efficiency and Quality of Care, December 2005;
1. in 15 inpatient admissions includes a significant adverse drug event
2. Adverse drug events occur in up to 18% of ambulatory patients
3. 6 percent of admissions are caused by an adversed drug event
4. Preventable medication errors cost $2 billion annually
5. Poor medication utilization costs another $27 billion.
What can you do? visit http://www.PassportMD.com or visit http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com so that you can use their wizard to create your medical record with your medications, organized, legible and accessible from anywhere.
Senior Citizen services judge quality of healthcare
Almost 98,000 deaths are caused per year as a result of medical errors. What is the determining factor for senior citizens to select their doctors, hospitals or health care organizations... a recent study showed that 12 percent of those people surveyed said patient safety is the most influential factor.
This study was specifically asking how a patient judges the quality of their healthcare. Fifty-two (52) % said that quality or outcome information is the most important.
23% of people surveyed used price or cost as their determining factor.
What is your most influential single piece of information that you use in determining the quality of health care?
This study was specifically asking how a patient judges the quality of their healthcare. Fifty-two (52) % said that quality or outcome information is the most important.
23% of people surveyed used price or cost as their determining factor.
What is your most influential single piece of information that you use in determining the quality of health care?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
