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.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
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?
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Keep Seniors Healthy- Cancer Facts
Lower rates of smoking, earlier diagnoses and better treatments have all resulted in a decline in death rates from cancer. A decline of 1.6 % for men from 1993-2003 and .8 % for women during this period.
Increases in breast cancer have leveled off. There was a jump, however, in thyroid cancer with rates increasing amongst women , year over year. This has been attributed to better diagnosis. Two thirds of poeple diagnosed with thyroid cancer are between 20 and 55 years of age. Thyroid cancer has a 97 percent five year survival.
For more information go to www.cancer.org or call 800-422-6237 for the American Cancer Society.
Increases in breast cancer have leveled off. There was a jump, however, in thyroid cancer with rates increasing amongst women , year over year. This has been attributed to better diagnosis. Two thirds of poeple diagnosed with thyroid cancer are between 20 and 55 years of age. Thyroid cancer has a 97 percent five year survival.
For more information go to www.cancer.org or call 800-422-6237 for the American Cancer Society.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Keep Seniors Healthy- should I request records from my doctors?
Should you request your medical records from your doctor?
Most seniors are uncomfortable with this concept.. they trust their doctor implicitly... much like a "Marcus Welby, MD"...and they feel the doctor may resent their requests and read into this as a "doubt or questioning" of their ability or treatments... I think this is untrue..most doctors are not and should not be threatened by a patient's request for his records..Nowadays with electronic medical records and fax... it has become commonplace for doctors to receive requests for records... particularly by insurance companies that need this info to evaluate their applicants for their risks... this is very very common.
I think once a doctor understands why you are requesting his records..ie for your own recordkeeping purposes..ie creation of your own personal medical record through services like http://www.PassportMD.com or http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com , then I believe they understand and appreciate their patients' desire and motivation to keep themselves proactive as it relates to their medical care. Doctors understand the value of good, legible, organized notes and historical information, as they request it daily so that they themselves can see it before initiating treatment. It is better medicine and it is better for you.. do you keep track of personal belongings, receipts, automative work, accounting, bills, finances, housing products, electronics, house maintanence?? If you do this... dont you think you should do the same for yourself, your health of your family, children, parents, and you depend on it.
Will doctors release your records when you request it?
They will and they have to ..Under HIPAA , doctors have 30 days to comply with your requests for records. Charges are limited to actual costs and states limit the maximum a doctor can charge per page. PassportMD facilitates this process for people requesting their records.
Most seniors are uncomfortable with this concept.. they trust their doctor implicitly... much like a "Marcus Welby, MD"...and they feel the doctor may resent their requests and read into this as a "doubt or questioning" of their ability or treatments... I think this is untrue..most doctors are not and should not be threatened by a patient's request for his records..Nowadays with electronic medical records and fax... it has become commonplace for doctors to receive requests for records... particularly by insurance companies that need this info to evaluate their applicants for their risks... this is very very common.
I think once a doctor understands why you are requesting his records..ie for your own recordkeeping purposes..ie creation of your own personal medical record through services like http://www.PassportMD.com or http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com , then I believe they understand and appreciate their patients' desire and motivation to keep themselves proactive as it relates to their medical care. Doctors understand the value of good, legible, organized notes and historical information, as they request it daily so that they themselves can see it before initiating treatment. It is better medicine and it is better for you.. do you keep track of personal belongings, receipts, automative work, accounting, bills, finances, housing products, electronics, house maintanence?? If you do this... dont you think you should do the same for yourself, your health of your family, children, parents, and you depend on it.
Will doctors release your records when you request it?
They will and they have to ..Under HIPAA , doctors have 30 days to comply with your requests for records. Charges are limited to actual costs and states limit the maximum a doctor can charge per page. PassportMD facilitates this process for people requesting their records.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Keep Seniors Healthy- Seniors are Getting Wired
According to a report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, about 8 million Americans 65 or older use the internet. This is a 47% increase from 2000 to 2004. Seniors are getting wired up and are becoming one of the fastest growing groups on the internet.
Are you a senior? Do you find navigating the internet easy or difficult? What are the biggest obstacles you face in using your computer or in getting to feel comfortable with surfing the net?
What are your main reasons for using the internet?
Are you a senior? Do you find navigating the internet easy or difficult? What are the biggest obstacles you face in using your computer or in getting to feel comfortable with surfing the net?
What are your main reasons for using the internet?
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Keep Seniors Healthy-Unnecessary medical testing and Physician Report Cards
Attention Seniors...
What are your thoughts about physician "report cards". These are the newest thing that are being generated by insurance companies as well as private industry to "grade" your doctor. If you ask most physicians, they probably are not in favor of this. You can understand why. What if some beligerent or hostile patient, created a smear campaign for a physician and consistently wrote or submitted negative grades and comments on that particular physician? The doctor would have no real defense of unjustified attacks or unvalidated claims regarding their performance. There is one Michaign Insurance Plan that allows phsysicans to challenge inaccurate data online. Also, an unintended consequence of scorecards or report cards is that htey could motivate physicians to avoid noncompliant patients.
The flip side is... are you the consumer entitled to see this info recognizing that some of it might not be accurate? What are your thoughts? Is it fair to have a "report card" on doctors generated by patients? Whould these only be used internally by health insurance companies or do you the consumer want to see them also?
Keep in mind , it is unclear that report card rankings actually reflect a physician's true quality.
Let us know your thoughts on this issue.
What about Unnecessary medical testing? Why do you think doctors do it? Millions of dollars are spent each year on unnecessary medical tests? Do you think these are motivated by medicolegal concerns by the doctor, ie "if I dont order it, I will be held responsible for this and may get sued". Doctors are concerned about missing diagnoses that could cost them in a malpractice case.. as lawyers will jump all over this... so doctors tend to want to take a "cya" approach to practicing medicine. Can you blame them?
What are your thoughts about physician "report cards". These are the newest thing that are being generated by insurance companies as well as private industry to "grade" your doctor. If you ask most physicians, they probably are not in favor of this. You can understand why. What if some beligerent or hostile patient, created a smear campaign for a physician and consistently wrote or submitted negative grades and comments on that particular physician? The doctor would have no real defense of unjustified attacks or unvalidated claims regarding their performance. There is one Michaign Insurance Plan that allows phsysicans to challenge inaccurate data online. Also, an unintended consequence of scorecards or report cards is that htey could motivate physicians to avoid noncompliant patients.
The flip side is... are you the consumer entitled to see this info recognizing that some of it might not be accurate? What are your thoughts? Is it fair to have a "report card" on doctors generated by patients? Whould these only be used internally by health insurance companies or do you the consumer want to see them also?
Keep in mind , it is unclear that report card rankings actually reflect a physician's true quality.
Let us know your thoughts on this issue.
What about Unnecessary medical testing? Why do you think doctors do it? Millions of dollars are spent each year on unnecessary medical tests? Do you think these are motivated by medicolegal concerns by the doctor, ie "if I dont order it, I will be held responsible for this and may get sued". Doctors are concerned about missing diagnoses that could cost them in a malpractice case.. as lawyers will jump all over this... so doctors tend to want to take a "cya" approach to practicing medicine. Can you blame them?
Keep Seniors Healthy-Refund on your long distance phone service tax
You can now claim a refuon on you 2006 tax return when youfile next year. Forms will include a line requesting the refund. For all those long distance phone calls you made to your grandchildren and children, for instance, between March 1, 2003 and July 31, 2006, you may request a refund with interest on the excise tax that yo paid on long distance phone service.
If you dont have the records for that period, you can claim a standard refund rate .
If you dont have the records for that period, you can claim a standard refund rate .
Keep Seniors Healthy- A Place to Call 411 for free
Instead of paying higher and higher rates to call 411 , which now cost anywhere from $1.40 with Sprint PCS to $3.49 with MCI, you can now call 1-800-FREE411 and pay nothing. You may have to listen o a short ad before getting your free listing. The company that provides this service is called Jingle Networks.
Keep Seniors Healthy- Victims of Flood or Hurricane Damage
If you are a victim of a flood or hurricane damage and you are having trouble settling insurance claims. There is a website resource that may help with some good advice on getting advance payments for losses and coverage issues, go to http://www.femainfo.us .
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
More Hurricane Tips for Seniors
1. keep a 2 week supply of food on hand-mostly canned foods.
2. remember to have bottled water. (a gallon per day per person for drinking and sanitation)
3. Gallon sized freezer bags for ice
4. Household bleach to purify water
5. duct tape
6. basic tools
7. flashlight and extra batteries
8. fire extinguisher
9. matches
10. first aid kit
11. plastic eating utensils
12. 2 week supply of pet food
13. mosquito repellant
14. cat litter for soaking up spills
15. whistle or horn
16. rope or cord
17. blankets or sleeping bags
18. shoes with rubber soldes
19. Know where breaker panel is in the house
20. Stay clear of pudddles
21. Dont use public water until local water utility through media says so
22. avoid driving
23. obey curfews
24. Double check all medical supplies
25. Put valuables and documents in safe place including list of possessions
26. Can store valuable documents online at http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com
27. Use Common Sense.
2. remember to have bottled water. (a gallon per day per person for drinking and sanitation)
3. Gallon sized freezer bags for ice
4. Household bleach to purify water
5. duct tape
6. basic tools
7. flashlight and extra batteries
8. fire extinguisher
9. matches
10. first aid kit
11. plastic eating utensils
12. 2 week supply of pet food
13. mosquito repellant
14. cat litter for soaking up spills
15. whistle or horn
16. rope or cord
17. blankets or sleeping bags
18. shoes with rubber soldes
19. Know where breaker panel is in the house
20. Stay clear of pudddles
21. Dont use public water until local water utility through media says so
22. avoid driving
23. obey curfews
24. Double check all medical supplies
25. Put valuables and documents in safe place including list of possessions
26. Can store valuable documents online at http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com
27. Use Common Sense.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Keep Seniors Healthy During Hurricanes
Here are some good basic tips:
1. Stock up on plenty of bottle water
2. Stock up on plenty of batteries, the size that fits your am/fm radio and your flashlights
3. Organize any critical papers such as financial documents, living will, pet documents, insurance documents, and bills... pre pay any bills that you think might be due at the same time the hurricane is destined to hit..
4. Organize your medical records, prescriptions, actual pills, and doctors names and numbers..
5. Use a service like ours... http://www.Passportmd.com or http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com to safely store your important legal documents and medical records..it will keep them offsite , easily accessible , and like a "safety deposit box" for information that you may need at any time during the after math of the hurricane.
6. Create a list of emergency phone numbers to keep with you for after the hurricane.
7. Make sure , loved ones or friends, will know where you will be during a hurricane.
8. Find a safe place to "wheather" the hurricane.
1. Stock up on plenty of bottle water
2. Stock up on plenty of batteries, the size that fits your am/fm radio and your flashlights
3. Organize any critical papers such as financial documents, living will, pet documents, insurance documents, and bills... pre pay any bills that you think might be due at the same time the hurricane is destined to hit..
4. Organize your medical records, prescriptions, actual pills, and doctors names and numbers..
5. Use a service like ours... http://www.Passportmd.com or http://www.KeepSeniorsHealthy.com to safely store your important legal documents and medical records..it will keep them offsite , easily accessible , and like a "safety deposit box" for information that you may need at any time during the after math of the hurricane.
6. Create a list of emergency phone numbers to keep with you for after the hurricane.
7. Make sure , loved ones or friends, will know where you will be during a hurricane.
8. Find a safe place to "wheather" the hurricane.
Keep Seniors Healthy- US initiates program to improved older citizens health
The US Dept HHS has earmarked a $15 million dollar initiative through public and private collaborations to help older people manage their chrnic disease, improve their diet, increase their activity and and up to 12 states will receive grants for this. Each stat that participates will use evidence based prevention programs in 3 different geographic regions to study this.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
What is the biggest problem for seniors today as it relates to their doctors?
If you could change anything about how you, as a senior, or as a caretaker of a senior, what would you change as it relates to your experience with medical care, doctors, nurses?
What is the biggest problem you face in health care? is it costs? is it the doctor patient relationship? is it the doctor's front office ?
Is it the doctor?
Many people complain that doctors dont spend enough time with them during their visit? Do you agree?
Other people, complain that doctors deal out to many prescriptions...
Let us know your thoughts...
What is the biggest problem you face in health care? is it costs? is it the doctor patient relationship? is it the doctor's front office ?
Is it the doctor?
Many people complain that doctors dont spend enough time with them during their visit? Do you agree?
Other people, complain that doctors deal out to many prescriptions...
Let us know your thoughts...
Keep Seniors Healthy- Bush mandates Transparent Pricing, will ebay start listing medical procedures and doctors
Is Transparent Pricing a good or bad thing?
In other words...should everyone.. understand and have access to the pricing costs of medical care, of your doctor? your hospital?
will ebay start listing medical procedures?
will people bid on their doctor to receive the lowest priced service?
Is this a good thing or not ?
Will market forces create a better priced medical delivery model?
In other words...should everyone.. understand and have access to the pricing costs of medical care, of your doctor? your hospital?
will ebay start listing medical procedures?
will people bid on their doctor to receive the lowest priced service?
Is this a good thing or not ?
Will market forces create a better priced medical delivery model?
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Keep Seniors Healthy- What are medicare beneficiaries doing to reduce their health care risks?
According to an article in Medical Economics Magazine, June 16, 2006.. more than 100,000 medicare beneficiaries have joined 8 pilot programs to reduce their health risks and improve the quality of life for the chronically ill. These programs were created by the Modernization Act of 2003 and are operating as Medicare Health Support Programs in Florida, Chicago, Washington D.C., Mississippi, Georgia , Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
This seems like a positive move from seniors and from medicare..do you agree? Have you had any experience with these programs that you can tell us about on this blog?
This seems like a positive move from seniors and from medicare..do you agree? Have you had any experience with these programs that you can tell us about on this blog?
Keep Seniors Healthy- Facts about Health Insurance
(according to “The coverage Gap: A State by State Reort on Access to Care” prepared for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation by State healthy Access Data Assistance Center, University of Minnesota, April 2006)
Did you know that 15 % of adults age 50-64 are without health insurance?
How would you solve this problem?
Did you know that 41% of uninsured adults age 18-65 could not afford to see a doctor when needed within the past 12 months?
Do you consider this a health care problem? Is this your responsibility to fix? Are we in a health care crisis?
Did you know that 57% of uninsured adults do not have a personal health care provider or physician?
Do you have any thoughts on how to lower this percentage?
Are you one of these 57%?
Did you know that 15 % of adults age 50-64 are without health insurance?
How would you solve this problem?
Did you know that 41% of uninsured adults age 18-65 could not afford to see a doctor when needed within the past 12 months?
Do you consider this a health care problem? Is this your responsibility to fix? Are we in a health care crisis?
Did you know that 57% of uninsured adults do not have a personal health care provider or physician?
Do you have any thoughts on how to lower this percentage?
Are you one of these 57%?
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