Flu season is in full swing. Remember the basics: wash hands, cover mouth when cough, and stay home if you have the flu. Consider the vaccine if you are at high risk - pregnancy, children, over 65, multiple chronic illnesses, healthcare workers.
Preventing the Flu http://short.to/q651
H1N1 map of cases around the world http://is.gd/1Kxtj
J. L. Richardson, MD family medicine doctor, and author Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide .
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide is available at:
Amazon http://short.to/wi5l
Barnes & Noble http://short.to/wi5m
Borders http://cli.gs/5VX9n (excerpts here, courtesy of Google books)
jueves, 10 de diciembre de 2009
miércoles, 2 de diciembre de 2009
Some Doctors Miss the Mark
For the past few years I have seen pain management specialists for chronic pain. Seeking relief after many, many years has indeed been a challenge. Each time I was referred to a pain management specialist for the neck and back pain (from arthritis and herniated discs), treatments offered were medicine (especially samples of new stuff), and invasive procedures like epidural spinals and trigger point injections. Alternative treatment was rarely offered, and if so was limited to 20-30 minutes physical therapy sessions for about six weeks every few years, upon my request.
Fortunately, my neurosurgeons saw the light. In efforts to achieve pain control and maintain function without surgery, other treatments such as massage and acupuncture were recommended. Sadly enough, these choices are not covered by my insurance. I am still waiting for over a year now for approval and payment for long term treatment (which works) instead of six weeks.
Even though some doctors miss the mark, there are others who are on the mark. As a savvy patient you must always recognize this. You have choices even if you must pay for medical services you need out of your pocket. It is a tough choice, but the best for your health. If there is something you need that is not covered by your insurance, you have choices. Make the one best for you, especially if your doctor misses the mark.
by J. L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient advocate and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
Read excerpts at Google Books http://books.google.com/books?id=kPmXiNrg1pYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=patient+handbook+to+medical+care
www.twitter.com/MD4U
Fortunately, my neurosurgeons saw the light. In efforts to achieve pain control and maintain function without surgery, other treatments such as massage and acupuncture were recommended. Sadly enough, these choices are not covered by my insurance. I am still waiting for over a year now for approval and payment for long term treatment (which works) instead of six weeks.
Even though some doctors miss the mark, there are others who are on the mark. As a savvy patient you must always recognize this. You have choices even if you must pay for medical services you need out of your pocket. It is a tough choice, but the best for your health. If there is something you need that is not covered by your insurance, you have choices. Make the one best for you, especially if your doctor misses the mark.
by J. L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient advocate and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
Read excerpts at Google Books http://books.google.com/books?id=kPmXiNrg1pYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=patient+handbook+to+medical+care
www.twitter.com/MD4U
martes, 10 de noviembre de 2009
Routine Checkups Work, Ask Kareem
After disclosing his diagnosis with myeloid cancer, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, told journalists how routine checkups (for him every two years) help find his cancer early. His confidence in telling his medical story was utterly genuine. What a smart patient! He revealed that his symptoms were clues that something was awry with his health. His complete blood count (CBC) helped his doctor find the cancer. He further expressed his savvy by discussing his family history and that cancer was present. This is valuable knowledge for every patient.
Prevention and early detection in addition to education are key for great health. You must help your health care team with your health plan. Information like family history, your present medical and past medical history are the basic building blocks for your individual health maintenance plan. Take the time to put this down on paper and share with your present doctor and each new doctor you see. As you go along research your findings from medical records you have, and be sure they are accurate, correct and yours.
Routine checkups work. Ask Kareem.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor and patient advocate, author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, recipient of Writer's Digest International Self Publishers award in reference books.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd - readings by author
http://short.to/vb5e - excerpts & bookstores on Google Books
Prevention and early detection in addition to education are key for great health. You must help your health care team with your health plan. Information like family history, your present medical and past medical history are the basic building blocks for your individual health maintenance plan. Take the time to put this down on paper and share with your present doctor and each new doctor you see. As you go along research your findings from medical records you have, and be sure they are accurate, correct and yours.
Routine checkups work. Ask Kareem.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor and patient advocate, author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, recipient of Writer's Digest International Self Publishers award in reference books.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd - readings by author
http://short.to/vb5e - excerpts & bookstores on Google Books
domingo, 1 de noviembre de 2009
Marijuana for Pain: Up Close & Personal
Such a timely question, medical cannabis. I live in a state that has all but decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Police may write tickets and confiscate, but even that minimal enforcement is rarely performed.
While I empathize with my cohorts with a variety of pain issues, I can only speak from my own experiences, so here's my first person perspective.
I was in the music business in Nashville when it became known as the "Third Coast" in the early-mid 1980s. Drugs were everywhere. The same people who smoked dope were into exotic highs like mushrooms, and then cocaine swept over us like a wave. Not wanting to raise my daughters in that environment, I left - the business, and the state.
Having been in the environment, I am one who unfailingly believes that marijuana is indeed often a "gateway drug" to more hard core substances - but for a different reason. The people I saw moving on to harder substances were a personality type - those who pushed the envelope. Perhaps for some it is the thrill of living dangerously, i.e. breaking a law, rather than the effect of the drug. I honestly
don't think I ever met anyone who suffered withdrawal symptoms from either being without a supply of pot, or from discontinuing it cold turkey.
Alcohol and tobacco are legal, controlled and taxed. There is an expectation that the ingredients (including the toxic ones) are of a consistent strength and character. Not so with illegal cannabis, which may be laced with angel dust or rat poison for that matter. No two highs are the same, or so I'm told.
The fact that there is no guarantee of safety or consistency, nor a legal way for me to try cannabis medicinally (and that I obey the speed limit when no one is watching) prevents me from experimenting. But some nights the painful systemic neuropathy drives me to the very brink of sanity.
With liver function tests consistently out of normal range, I'm in a terrible place for pain control: I have none. Neuroleptic drugs like gabapentin are notoriously hepatotoxic. Hydrocodone/apap or stronger narcotic/acetaminophen combinations are not only not effective for neuropathic pain, the acetaminophen is contraindicated in the presence of suspected or confirmed liver disease. So is alcohol.
I'm not aware of any research indicating cannabis in liver disease.
Medical cannabis can be delivered through smokeless methods, important to folks with respiratory disease. I've read that atomized cannabis is particularly effective and I'd love to try it, prescribed and monitored by my physician. Surely it would be safer pain control than the corticosteroid that only helps a little.
I've been a good Doo-Bee. I passed up the pipe, the rolled dollar bill, the magic mushrooms, and the Jack Daniels bottle under significant peer pressure. I'm so careful with my prescribed pain medications that I'm considered "narcotic naive". I've had surgical pain interventions, but there is no rhizotomy for systemic neuropathy.
Would it be too much to ask my government to permit me compassionate use of a natural substance to alleviate the pain that prevents me from being the person I can be?
Rachel Rosenfeld
http://www.twitter.com/NanaRCR
Thanks to guest blogger Rachel Rosenfeld for this great post on medical marijauna as it relates to her personal health issues. Medical research by doctors has shown it to be effective for safe treatment of pain and many other medical conditions that have been failed by traditional medication (including Marinol pills). Legalizing marijuana will have a great positive impact on patient comfort and quality of life.
While I empathize with my cohorts with a variety of pain issues, I can only speak from my own experiences, so here's my first person perspective.
I was in the music business in Nashville when it became known as the "Third Coast" in the early-mid 1980s. Drugs were everywhere. The same people who smoked dope were into exotic highs like mushrooms, and then cocaine swept over us like a wave. Not wanting to raise my daughters in that environment, I left - the business, and the state.
Having been in the environment, I am one who unfailingly believes that marijuana is indeed often a "gateway drug" to more hard core substances - but for a different reason. The people I saw moving on to harder substances were a personality type - those who pushed the envelope. Perhaps for some it is the thrill of living dangerously, i.e. breaking a law, rather than the effect of the drug. I honestly
don't think I ever met anyone who suffered withdrawal symptoms from either being without a supply of pot, or from discontinuing it cold turkey.
Alcohol and tobacco are legal, controlled and taxed. There is an expectation that the ingredients (including the toxic ones) are of a consistent strength and character. Not so with illegal cannabis, which may be laced with angel dust or rat poison for that matter. No two highs are the same, or so I'm told.
The fact that there is no guarantee of safety or consistency, nor a legal way for me to try cannabis medicinally (and that I obey the speed limit when no one is watching) prevents me from experimenting. But some nights the painful systemic neuropathy drives me to the very brink of sanity.
With liver function tests consistently out of normal range, I'm in a terrible place for pain control: I have none. Neuroleptic drugs like gabapentin are notoriously hepatotoxic. Hydrocodone/apap or stronger narcotic/acetaminophen combinations are not only not effective for neuropathic pain, the acetaminophen is contraindicated in the presence of suspected or confirmed liver disease. So is alcohol.
I'm not aware of any research indicating cannabis in liver disease.
Medical cannabis can be delivered through smokeless methods, important to folks with respiratory disease. I've read that atomized cannabis is particularly effective and I'd love to try it, prescribed and monitored by my physician. Surely it would be safer pain control than the corticosteroid that only helps a little.
I've been a good Doo-Bee. I passed up the pipe, the rolled dollar bill, the magic mushrooms, and the Jack Daniels bottle under significant peer pressure. I'm so careful with my prescribed pain medications that I'm considered "narcotic naive". I've had surgical pain interventions, but there is no rhizotomy for systemic neuropathy.
Would it be too much to ask my government to permit me compassionate use of a natural substance to alleviate the pain that prevents me from being the person I can be?
Rachel Rosenfeld
http://www.twitter.com/NanaRCR
Thanks to guest blogger Rachel Rosenfeld for this great post on medical marijauna as it relates to her personal health issues. Medical research by doctors has shown it to be effective for safe treatment of pain and many other medical conditions that have been failed by traditional medication (including Marinol pills). Legalizing marijuana will have a great positive impact on patient comfort and quality of life.
martes, 6 de octubre de 2009
Side Effects of Flu Vaccines
The flu vaccine may mimic symptoms of the flu. Check with your health care provider for any side effects from vaccination. Some side effects encountered are:
Allergy reaction with rash, shortness of breath/asthma, swelling
Fever, chills. malaise
Sore arm with redness, swelling, bruising at injection site
Muscle aches and headache
Nausea, vomiting
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis
There have been no reports of the more serious side effects in the small studies conducted. Which poses the greatest risk - the flu or the vaccine? It is up to you and your health care provider. Be informed so you can make the best decision for you.
Best health!
by J. L. Richardson, MD family physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, the book that tells you how to be your best advocate from medical records to medical exams to medical tests and more.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
Allergy reaction with rash, shortness of breath/asthma, swelling
Fever, chills. malaise
Sore arm with redness, swelling, bruising at injection site
Muscle aches and headache
Nausea, vomiting
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis
There have been no reports of the more serious side effects in the small studies conducted. Which poses the greatest risk - the flu or the vaccine? It is up to you and your health care provider. Be informed so you can make the best decision for you.
Best health!
by J. L. Richardson, MD family physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, the book that tells you how to be your best advocate from medical records to medical exams to medical tests and more.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
viernes, 25 de septiembre de 2009
Doctor-Patient Communication Suboptimal, Part 2
When you go to see the doctor you expect compassion, kindness and time! Doctors are walking out the door while you speak. There is little time for much more. Unprofessional hurried behavior is the norm amongst many physicians, while their health care extenders - nurses, physician assistants, nurse assistants - are reported as having much more bedside manner that shows true compassion. Is it really okay to be an unprofessional professional?
Is is okay for your doctor to come in and say, "How you doing dawg?" ? Meanwhile you look around to see if you are in the veterinarian's office by mistake...without your dog. All of a sudden this middle-aged man has finally joined the hip hop now generation. A "How u doin'?" a la Wendy Williams would have been really nice.
Is eight minutes really long enough for a doctor visit? This includes only the conversation without an exam. After repeatedly interrupting you and being interrupted this decreases to three to four minutes. The doctor has just enough time to meet the objective of writing that medical note about you that you may never get to see yet it determines your destiny.
Is it okay for your doctor to admit that she is a "bad doctor" because she admits that she is not keeping a list of all the medicine samples she has given you over the years? There is no documentation in your medical records of all the current medication you are taking. "Bad doctor" by self admission raises a red flag for sure. It seems "bad medicine" is more like it.
As has been said many times, many ways...YOU are your best advocate. It is up to you to be sure that you know all the medicines you are taking and to know your complete medical history. It is up to you to be informed and educated about all of this. Waiting for your doctor may be very hazardous to your health.
by J. L. Richardson, MD family physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, the book that tells you how to be your best advocate from medical records to medical exams to medical tests and more.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
Is is okay for your doctor to come in and say, "How you doing dawg?" ? Meanwhile you look around to see if you are in the veterinarian's office by mistake...without your dog. All of a sudden this middle-aged man has finally joined the hip hop now generation. A "How u doin'?" a la Wendy Williams would have been really nice.
Is eight minutes really long enough for a doctor visit? This includes only the conversation without an exam. After repeatedly interrupting you and being interrupted this decreases to three to four minutes. The doctor has just enough time to meet the objective of writing that medical note about you that you may never get to see yet it determines your destiny.
Is it okay for your doctor to admit that she is a "bad doctor" because she admits that she is not keeping a list of all the medicine samples she has given you over the years? There is no documentation in your medical records of all the current medication you are taking. "Bad doctor" by self admission raises a red flag for sure. It seems "bad medicine" is more like it.
As has been said many times, many ways...YOU are your best advocate. It is up to you to be sure that you know all the medicines you are taking and to know your complete medical history. It is up to you to be informed and educated about all of this. Waiting for your doctor may be very hazardous to your health.
by J. L. Richardson, MD family physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, the book that tells you how to be your best advocate from medical records to medical exams to medical tests and more.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
martes, 15 de septiembre de 2009
H1N1 Update
The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported 593 deaths to date (compare to 170 at the end of June increasing from 17 at the end of May). All 50 states have been affected. Mass vaccination is planned starting some time in October. Over 2,800 have participated in vacccine clinical trials http://is.gd/3cVSf . Though reported to give immunity in over 90%, many are already reluctant to get the vaccine.
Thank God, H1N1 is not chicken little and the sky is not falling. Best health!
More references:
Preventing the Flu http://short.to/q651 wash hands, cover mouth when cough, consider vaccine
H1N1 map of cases around the world http://is.gd/1Kxtj
by J. L. Richardson, MD family medicine doctor, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
Thank God, H1N1 is not chicken little and the sky is not falling. Best health!
More references:
Preventing the Flu http://short.to/q651 wash hands, cover mouth when cough, consider vaccine
H1N1 map of cases around the world http://is.gd/1Kxtj
by J. L. Richardson, MD family medicine doctor, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
lunes, 7 de septiembre de 2009
Know Your Medication Names - Brand & Generic
Please welcome, guest blogger, Ellen Richter for this post. Know your medication!
If you take a brand-name drug, you should learn all the other names for the drug. I cared for a patient last month who had been taking Plavix for a mini-stroke since 2001. He knew that he should never stop taking the drug, so when he was hospitalized, he asked his nurse what medications his doctor ordered. She told him baby aspirin and clopidogrel. He never heard of clopidogrel so he called his wife & had her bring in his Plavix. He thought the hospital wasn't giving it to him! Every day, he silently took his own Plavix without telling the staff and then was given the daily dose, in generic form, by the nurses! If only he knew the different names for his drugs! He assumed the generic clopidogrel was a new pill the doctor had started him on!
Ellen Richter, RN, CLNC is a legal nurse consultant and founder of South Florida Legal Nurse Consultant Service, specializing in medical record review.
http://www.findlegalnurse.com/index.html
If you take a brand-name drug, you should learn all the other names for the drug. I cared for a patient last month who had been taking Plavix for a mini-stroke since 2001. He knew that he should never stop taking the drug, so when he was hospitalized, he asked his nurse what medications his doctor ordered. She told him baby aspirin and clopidogrel. He never heard of clopidogrel so he called his wife & had her bring in his Plavix. He thought the hospital wasn't giving it to him! Every day, he silently took his own Plavix without telling the staff and then was given the daily dose, in generic form, by the nurses! If only he knew the different names for his drugs! He assumed the generic clopidogrel was a new pill the doctor had started him on!
Ellen Richter, RN, CLNC is a legal nurse consultant and founder of South Florida Legal Nurse Consultant Service, specializing in medical record review.
http://www.findlegalnurse.com/index.html
jueves, 27 de agosto de 2009
5 Medical Money Savers
Here are five medical money savers to help you spend your health dollars wisely.
Great health is true wealth!
J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine expert, is the author of the award winning, Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
- Keep weight stable. It is the healthy thing to do. This will save on grocery and clothing expenses. Long term savings on medical expenses.
- Get prescription meds in bulk quantity of 100 versus thirty day supply especially if you are paying for your meds.Buy nonprescription medical items in bulk when on sale. You will be amazed at your savings when you buy a six to twelve month supply on sale. This tip is also effective for emergency preparedness.
- Check with your state provisions for health care. Many states have low cost insurance plans available. Check what your state has to offer by contacting the state health agency.
- Talk with your doctor by phone, fax, and email to save on the cost of an office visit payment. Just think about the number of office visits you have been to where all you did was talk (after waiting for a long while). Save your time and money.
- For blood pressure checks, get yourself a home blood pressure monitor. Call in your readings. Many doctors will discover that your blood pressure is actually stable when the stress of the doctor's white coat is absent. For diabetics, a home glucometer is very useful for monitoring blood sugar.
Great health is true wealth!
J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine expert, is the author of the award winning, Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
jueves, 20 de agosto de 2009
Doctor-Patient Communication Suboptimal
This email reply is in regards to my poll question on preferred way patients wish to be contacted by their doctors for their test results (http://twtpoll.com/mn9yin), if they are contacted at all.
Of course, "if you don't hear anything that means all is okay" is definitely not the answer. Many patients have been wrongly diagnosed, diagnosed too late, or died with this mantra. Lack of followup by patients and doctors is one of the top reasons for adverse outcomes and wrong diagnosis that lead to malpractice suits, delay in diagnosis, etc.
Make it your decision to contact your doctor if you don't hear about your test results in a timely manner. How you wish to contact your doctor is up to you. Make sure you followup if your doctor fails to do so.
Much thanks to Rachel Rosenfeld for allowing me to share this insightful information.
Dear Dr. Richardson,
Thanks for the DM regarding how to contact patients about test results.
In various roles as patient, family member, friend, caretaker and advocate, and in being in late 50s and having seen medicine (when did it become healthcare) change over a half century, here's my take:
40 years ago, medicine was less rushed, docs had time to pore over test results and a call from the nurse "everything came back ok" was the norm . Why did patients need specifics, they knew their doctor-god would watch over them.
Fast forward to the present with informed, educated patients as consumers, overworked physicians providing assembly-line medicine and yes, occasionally forgetting Mrs. Cardwell's first name. We know our numbers these days, or we know about our chronic conditions, we know when our hypothyroidism is not quite under control for example and "normal" won't cut it when that number is outside our personal normal limits. My cholesterol is "a little high but ok" - but what's the
change since last year? My lymphocytes are high but total count is normal - and you didn't bother to call me and I have sarcoidosis and almost died from that untreated infection that lingered for six months....
We patients watch our numbers, or our conditions ... in my case, let's watch my CA and my BUN and creatinine and the white blood cells, I'm not too worried about anything else. For my brother, it would be trends in glucose and cholesterol ...
And we know where to find the results from last month, last year, we know how we feel compared to those lab results and we know how to adjust behaviors for something trending negatively (e.g. cholesterol), or how to get hold of our specialist for something outside normal limits (e.g., elevated CA or lymphocytes as in my sarcoidosis).
But we have to be told, whether it's by direct access (hospitals in Northwest FL have been doing this for years), email, fax or phone.
"Everything's normal" is no longer the accepted norm.
Shalom
Rachel Rosenfeld
Of course, "if you don't hear anything that means all is okay" is definitely not the answer. Many patients have been wrongly diagnosed, diagnosed too late, or died with this mantra. Lack of followup by patients and doctors is one of the top reasons for adverse outcomes and wrong diagnosis that lead to malpractice suits, delay in diagnosis, etc.
Make it your decision to contact your doctor if you don't hear about your test results in a timely manner. How you wish to contact your doctor is up to you. Make sure you followup if your doctor fails to do so.
Much thanks to Rachel Rosenfeld for allowing me to share this insightful information.
Dear Dr. Richardson,
Thanks for the DM regarding how to contact patients about test results.
In various roles as patient, family member, friend, caretaker and advocate, and in being in late 50s and having seen medicine (when did it become healthcare) change over a half century, here's my take:
40 years ago, medicine was less rushed, docs had time to pore over test results and a call from the nurse "everything came back ok" was the norm . Why did patients need specifics, they knew their doctor-god would watch over them.
Fast forward to the present with informed, educated patients as consumers, overworked physicians providing assembly-line medicine and yes, occasionally forgetting Mrs. Cardwell's first name. We know our numbers these days, or we know about our chronic conditions, we know when our hypothyroidism is not quite under control for example and "normal" won't cut it when that number is outside our personal normal limits. My cholesterol is "a little high but ok" - but what's the
change since last year? My lymphocytes are high but total count is normal - and you didn't bother to call me and I have sarcoidosis and almost died from that untreated infection that lingered for six months....
We patients watch our numbers, or our conditions ... in my case, let's watch my CA and my BUN and creatinine and the white blood cells, I'm not too worried about anything else. For my brother, it would be trends in glucose and cholesterol ...
And we know where to find the results from last month, last year, we know how we feel compared to those lab results and we know how to adjust behaviors for something trending negatively (e.g. cholesterol), or how to get hold of our specialist for something outside normal limits (e.g., elevated CA or lymphocytes as in my sarcoidosis).
But we have to be told, whether it's by direct access (hospitals in Northwest FL have been doing this for years), email, fax or phone.
"Everything's normal" is no longer the accepted norm.
Shalom
Rachel Rosenfeld
viernes, 14 de agosto de 2009
Healthcare Reform Changes Due Date?
When will the health care changes occur? Why have we ceased hearing about everyone having access to the same health plan as the President and Congress as promised during their campaigns?
My insurance premium has risen over $100 per year in the past 5 years and is now almost $900 per month! I have COBRA. The President says those with COBRA will get lower premiums. Will this be retroactive as well?
Should I consider dropping my insurance vs. seeking a new insurance? Unavoidable pre-existing conditions pose a problem no matter what. The President says this will cease.
By the time a health care bill is approved, I fear my insurance premium will have skyrocketed beyond my ability to pay. Mind you this does not include any other medical costs like prescriptions, treatments prescribed by my doctor that the insurance company does not cover, co payments, over the counter medication/ supplies, etc.
P.S. As a doctor, please let me dispel the myth that we (and nurses) are "paid too much". Today doctors finishing medical school entering residency are in debt at least $50,000 to $100,000 or more. Residency training barely pays enough to cover monthly living expenses.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, the book that helps you take care of your most important asset - YOU!
www.mypatienthandbook.com
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
My insurance premium has risen over $100 per year in the past 5 years and is now almost $900 per month! I have COBRA. The President says those with COBRA will get lower premiums. Will this be retroactive as well?
Should I consider dropping my insurance vs. seeking a new insurance? Unavoidable pre-existing conditions pose a problem no matter what. The President says this will cease.
By the time a health care bill is approved, I fear my insurance premium will have skyrocketed beyond my ability to pay. Mind you this does not include any other medical costs like prescriptions, treatments prescribed by my doctor that the insurance company does not cover, co payments, over the counter medication/ supplies, etc.
P.S. As a doctor, please let me dispel the myth that we (and nurses) are "paid too much". Today doctors finishing medical school entering residency are in debt at least $50,000 to $100,000 or more. Residency training barely pays enough to cover monthly living expenses.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, the book that helps you take care of your most important asset - YOU!
www.mypatienthandbook.com
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
sábado, 8 de agosto de 2009
Medical TV: Where is the Health News Channel?
Medical information on TV is limited and stagnating. Sixty seconds on the news. Two minutes on the talk show after commercials on prescription medication. Outdated show on this channel, and outdated repeat on that channel in between the new show. Watch some on this channel then click and click to different channels to connect your medical news for today.
Remember the crawler at the bottom of the screen. Oh, you missed that there was a bird flu outbreak in Pakistan today, and that HPV vaccines will be required for teen women and men. These are the ways we learn about some of the most important news we should know. It concerns our health and public safety.
If only we had a dedicated medical TV CNN (instead of just Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s excellent show on early weekend mornings, or his occasional special). You know, like the sports channels by sport, the cartoon channels by age (and now one for the boomers!), the movie channels, government channels, and on and on. Where is the “MTV” of medical channels? Discovery Health has been carrying the TV health media for years. There should be more!
The TV box is probably the most used medium by which folks get their news and information. It is certainly a way to get information to people. The most used information source is one of the least used by the cutting edge medical field. This was noted in my research paper, “Building an American Health System”, in 2002. This is 2007, and it’s pretty much the same, maybe even less.
A medical TV channel (actually several would be optimal) would be great! A daily health news show would be a great start towards 24-7 medical TV. Envision yourself clicking to the heart channel, or to programs with content about specific diseases. You could learn more about that high blood pressure you are trying to control, and how you can monitor it at home. Topics on maintaining good health, and prevention of disease would be a click away. And if you missed a show, it would be shown again and again.
Health and medical coverage on TV is surely lacking in this consumer driven health conscious society. We can watch as much sports, cartoons, movies, news as we want, but we still have to piece together our medical news and supplement it with the written word, or health care providers’ spoken word. And radio.
Great health is true wealth. Medical TV would make us even richer.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine physician, patient advocate and caregiver, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd (book reading by author)
www.twitter.com/drjfpmd
Remember the crawler at the bottom of the screen. Oh, you missed that there was a bird flu outbreak in Pakistan today, and that HPV vaccines will be required for teen women and men. These are the ways we learn about some of the most important news we should know. It concerns our health and public safety.
If only we had a dedicated medical TV CNN (instead of just Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s excellent show on early weekend mornings, or his occasional special). You know, like the sports channels by sport, the cartoon channels by age (and now one for the boomers!), the movie channels, government channels, and on and on. Where is the “MTV” of medical channels? Discovery Health has been carrying the TV health media for years. There should be more!
The TV box is probably the most used medium by which folks get their news and information. It is certainly a way to get information to people. The most used information source is one of the least used by the cutting edge medical field. This was noted in my research paper, “Building an American Health System”, in 2002. This is 2007, and it’s pretty much the same, maybe even less.
A medical TV channel (actually several would be optimal) would be great! A daily health news show would be a great start towards 24-7 medical TV. Envision yourself clicking to the heart channel, or to programs with content about specific diseases. You could learn more about that high blood pressure you are trying to control, and how you can monitor it at home. Topics on maintaining good health, and prevention of disease would be a click away. And if you missed a show, it would be shown again and again.
Health and medical coverage on TV is surely lacking in this consumer driven health conscious society. We can watch as much sports, cartoons, movies, news as we want, but we still have to piece together our medical news and supplement it with the written word, or health care providers’ spoken word. And radio.
Great health is true wealth. Medical TV would make us even richer.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine physician, patient advocate and caregiver, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd (book reading by author)
www.twitter.com/drjfpmd
miércoles, 5 de agosto de 2009
Save Your Life
"Save your life!" is the title for this blog on Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide. It was written by Sue Leonard of Cornerstone Fulfillment Service on her blog All Things Fulfilling.
It is so nice to know that this book is helping to save lives. Health maintenance, wellness, prevention, and early detection/treatment are the keys to unlocking your best health.
http://allthingsfulfilling.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/save-your-life/
Thank you Sue for this powerful message that is one of all things fulfilling!
It is so nice to know that this book is helping to save lives. Health maintenance, wellness, prevention, and early detection/treatment are the keys to unlocking your best health.
http://allthingsfulfilling.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/save-your-life/
Thank you Sue for this powerful message that is one of all things fulfilling!
miércoles, 29 de julio de 2009
Potential Pandemic Pandemonium: Swine Flu Who's Who
I wrote this comment to post on a blog post entitled,"Get Ready for Pandemic" in May. At this time there was evidence that people will be left out of treatment. Now with the new swine flu vaccine, the designated list of who gets it first has been made known. That alone may be enough to fuel pandemic pandemonium as new cases and deaths erupt daily. (** Thanks to the AC 360 blog for moderating on my comment. Posting it on this blog may reach more people.)
Dr. Flynn & Dr. Redlener, this is a great assessment and all so true. After seeing the actual response, and reading the “unfinished” (states Stage 3 is in progress) 336 page HHS Pandemic Flu Guide, The Pandemic Toolkit from Roche (makers of Tamiflu), pandemicflu.gov, and much more, we have so much more to do.
It would be nice to know that the national stockpile has more than the 50 million doses* for a 300 million plus population, many who are not able to afford it.
Add to the pandemic flu all the other natural disasters occurring daily, and it is easy to see that the health system and all systems will have a tough challenge to keep all safe. As you say, individuals must take responsibility and communication must be ongoing.
Thanks for this great article.
My footnotes added here:*Doctrine of HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan circa 2005, page 6,"
4. Quantities of antiviral drugs sufficient to treat 25% of the US population should be stockpiled." (how did they get this number?) and "8. At the onset of the pandemic, antiviral drugs from public stockpiles will be distributed to health care providers for administration to pre-determined priority groups." (who exactly is this?)
Are we ready for a pandemic? Or pandemic pandemonium?
by J.L. Richardson, MD family medicine doctor, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, http://mypatienthandbook.com/ .
More emergency information at Emergency Exchange, http://emergencyexchange.blogspot.com/ .
**http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/05/still-unprepared-for-a-lethal-pandemic/
Dr. Flynn & Dr. Redlener, this is a great assessment and all so true. After seeing the actual response, and reading the “unfinished” (states Stage 3 is in progress) 336 page HHS Pandemic Flu Guide, The Pandemic Toolkit from Roche (makers of Tamiflu), pandemicflu.gov, and much more, we have so much more to do.
It would be nice to know that the national stockpile has more than the 50 million doses* for a 300 million plus population, many who are not able to afford it.
Add to the pandemic flu all the other natural disasters occurring daily, and it is easy to see that the health system and all systems will have a tough challenge to keep all safe. As you say, individuals must take responsibility and communication must be ongoing.
Thanks for this great article.
My footnotes added here:*Doctrine of HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan circa 2005, page 6,"
4. Quantities of antiviral drugs sufficient to treat 25% of the US population should be stockpiled." (how did they get this number?) and "8. At the onset of the pandemic, antiviral drugs from public stockpiles will be distributed to health care providers for administration to pre-determined priority groups." (who exactly is this?)
Are we ready for a pandemic? Or pandemic pandemonium?
by J.L. Richardson, MD family medicine doctor, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, http://mypatienthandbook.com/ .
More emergency information at Emergency Exchange, http://emergencyexchange.blogspot.com/ .
**http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/05/still-unprepared-for-a-lethal-pandemic/
domingo, 26 de julio de 2009
Tips for Your Doctor Visit
Going to the doctor can be quite a challenge. "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide" is the perfect tool for patients to make their visits worthwhile.
One of the first things you want to do is make a written or typed medical history to take with you, especially if this is your first visit to a new doctor. Make a copy for you and your doctor. You both will be able to refer to it as needed. This will save valuable time, and give you and your doctor more time to talk instead of flipping through your medical record. It can be difficult trying to "remember" what test or procedure you had 10 years ago.
Start keeping a list of things you want to talk to your doctor about. Update the list before each visit. This way you will be able to keep track of what has been discussed, and what needs to be discussed. Try to talk about the most important things first especially those that need immediate attention. Each time you go for your visit, you can refer to your list and take up where you left off. Be sure to express your immediate concerns first. We all know how short a doctor visit can be.
Request copies of your medical records from all your doctors. "The medical record is the cornerstone of keeping track of everything pertaining to your health." You will be able to check the accuracy of your records, and bring any errors or absent information to your doctor's attention. Let your doctor know about anything you do not understand, or if there is something you are unable to read due to legibility. It is surprising to see how many doctors are often unable to read their own handwriting.
Stay on top of your health care with these tips. After all, great health is true wealth!
P.S. What tips do you have for doctor visits? Share your tips for doctor visits. Click on "comments".
jueves, 23 de julio de 2009
Disability & Illness
Blog talk radio show tonight July 23 - 7PM - topic #Disability & #Illness
Patient Handbook to Medical Care - show by Drjfpmd & MD4U on #BlogTalkRadio - www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
Patient Handbook to Medical Care - show by Drjfpmd & MD4U on #BlogTalkRadio - www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
miércoles, 22 de julio de 2009
Patient Handbook in Your Library
Dear Librarians,
A FREE copy of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide will be donated to your library upon request until Labor Day.
Bend of the River Books is proud to announce that Patient Handbook to Medical Care is now in 60 libraries throughout the United States. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has free public access to read and learn the importance of health maintenance, prevention, and wellness. This expert's guide to personal health care is the ideal book "to inform and educate patients about medical care".
Thank you for all your support. It is so appreciated.
Best,
Dr. Richardson
read excerpts from Google Books http://short.to/kbv1
A FREE copy of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide will be donated to your library upon request until Labor Day.
Bend of the River Books is proud to announce that Patient Handbook to Medical Care is now in 60 libraries throughout the United States. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has free public access to read and learn the importance of health maintenance, prevention, and wellness. This expert's guide to personal health care is the ideal book "to inform and educate patients about medical care".
Thank you for all your support. It is so appreciated.
Best,
Dr. Richardson
read excerpts from Google Books http://short.to/kbv1
jueves, 16 de julio de 2009
High Blood Pressure - Home Checks
High blood pressure, also called hypertension affects 1 in 4 adults. Do you know your numbers? do you what a normal reading is? A good normal reading is 120/80 with borderline at 130/85 to 140/90.
For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it consider home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available at Target, Walgreen's, CVS, Wal-Mart, and local medical supply stores. Shop on line by doing a search for "blood pressure monitor".
Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage the things that make it go up. Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary.
You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every one to four or more months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension. There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your cardiologist.
If your blood pressure is borderline at 130/85, you want o start a low salt diet. The best is the DASH diet (http://bit.ly/hnbsL). Exercise, weight control, and stress reduction are other things to include in your treatment plan. For higher blood pressure readings over 140/90, medication may be necessary. Take your home blood pressure results in to your doctor. This will help in deciding on the best treatment for you.
Check out the American Heart Association http://hearthub.org/ for more information.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of the Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it consider home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available at Target, Walgreen's, CVS, Wal-Mart, and local medical supply stores. Shop on line by doing a search for "blood pressure monitor".
Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage the things that make it go up. Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary.
You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every one to four or more months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension. There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your cardiologist.
If your blood pressure is borderline at 130/85, you want o start a low salt diet. The best is the DASH diet (http://bit.ly/hnbsL). Exercise, weight control, and stress reduction are other things to include in your treatment plan. For higher blood pressure readings over 140/90, medication may be necessary. Take your home blood pressure results in to your doctor. This will help in deciding on the best treatment for you.
Check out the American Heart Association http://hearthub.org/ for more information.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of the Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
miércoles, 15 de julio de 2009
Medication Mimics Disease
Medication mimics disease. Medication mimics disease. Medication mimics disease. This is one of the first medical pearls I learned in medical school. Tried an true. Time and again I have found it to be truer than I would like to believe.
I first wrote about this last year as my father was recovering from heart bypass surgery. Click the following link to read the blog on this after you finish reading this one, http://bit.ly/Dsr8H. I have experienced this myself and this time I know it is the medication that caused my recent asthma attacks.
When you are on more than one medication, it is hard to tell if it is the medication or another illness. In an effort to treat one problem, you develop another that makes you feel worse than what you have been treated for.
I was so pleased to see my blood pressure responding to about the fifth medicine my doctors had tried without success. Finally, the "magic" medication was working! After a few daily doses of this 24 hour, long acting, slow release pill, I started getting short of breath and wheezing. The asthma flareup was not responding to regular use of inhalers.
I could see no other cause for my asthma, so I decided to stop the blood pressure med. After two days the asthma attacks became less frequent, but remained. I went back to my medicine cabinet, and figured it must be another new med. I decided to read the drug information for side effects. Quite naturally, I trusted my doctors would know this was a side effect, and not give it to me since I have asthma (or not?). I read up on the side effects of yet another muscle relaxant "sample" my doctor had issued me. All my doctors missed this, and instead chose to give more med for the asthma.
I took matters into my own hands again, and stopped the other medication. After two days these 24 hour, long acting, "magic" meds were out of my system the asthma was gone, and I started feeling a lot better!
Medication mimics disease. Yes, it does. This was only one lesson learned. As I blogged before (http://bit.ly/r1snG), you should be reading the same information as your doctor on your medication and side effects. Well, if your doctor is not reading it, what are you going to do? Read it yourself, or get someone to read it to you!
You would like to think your doctor knows, but they don't especially if they are giving out new medication samples routinely. Second lesson, doctors are so eager to try new meds and to satisfy the drug reps that give them. This means they may get a financial incentive or some other "prize", and they will get more free samples.
Third lesson, we as patients are so eager to see results and feel better that we do as prescribed. We would like to know our doctor would "do no harm". Doctors hardly have or take the time to read about new medication. They just give it out, and if they pray, pray for the best.
Finally, once daily long acting medication sounds convenient. it is, but once you take it it lingers in your body longer. The side effects are continuous. When you have more than one medication, and more than one long acting, you can get a new disease or severe exacerbation of another.
Look out for yourself. Read up on your medicines before you take them. Check with your pharmacist who may be of some help (my pharmacist was unaware like my docs). Talk with others who may take the same. I would say call the drug company, but am hesitant to say if they would own up to whatever side effects you may be having.
Medication mimics disease. When in doubt, start with medication adjustment. Discuss it with your doctor, if you are able to get them before you succumb to another disease caused by medication.
Best, safe health to all!
By J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient, patient advocate, and author of the award winning Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
www.twitter.com/MD4U
I first wrote about this last year as my father was recovering from heart bypass surgery. Click the following link to read the blog on this after you finish reading this one, http://bit.ly/Dsr8H. I have experienced this myself and this time I know it is the medication that caused my recent asthma attacks.
When you are on more than one medication, it is hard to tell if it is the medication or another illness. In an effort to treat one problem, you develop another that makes you feel worse than what you have been treated for.
I was so pleased to see my blood pressure responding to about the fifth medicine my doctors had tried without success. Finally, the "magic" medication was working! After a few daily doses of this 24 hour, long acting, slow release pill, I started getting short of breath and wheezing. The asthma flareup was not responding to regular use of inhalers.
I could see no other cause for my asthma, so I decided to stop the blood pressure med. After two days the asthma attacks became less frequent, but remained. I went back to my medicine cabinet, and figured it must be another new med. I decided to read the drug information for side effects. Quite naturally, I trusted my doctors would know this was a side effect, and not give it to me since I have asthma (or not?). I read up on the side effects of yet another muscle relaxant "sample" my doctor had issued me. All my doctors missed this, and instead chose to give more med for the asthma.
I took matters into my own hands again, and stopped the other medication. After two days these 24 hour, long acting, "magic" meds were out of my system the asthma was gone, and I started feeling a lot better!
Medication mimics disease. Yes, it does. This was only one lesson learned. As I blogged before (http://bit.ly/r1snG), you should be reading the same information as your doctor on your medication and side effects. Well, if your doctor is not reading it, what are you going to do? Read it yourself, or get someone to read it to you!
You would like to think your doctor knows, but they don't especially if they are giving out new medication samples routinely. Second lesson, doctors are so eager to try new meds and to satisfy the drug reps that give them. This means they may get a financial incentive or some other "prize", and they will get more free samples.
Third lesson, we as patients are so eager to see results and feel better that we do as prescribed. We would like to know our doctor would "do no harm". Doctors hardly have or take the time to read about new medication. They just give it out, and if they pray, pray for the best.
Finally, once daily long acting medication sounds convenient. it is, but once you take it it lingers in your body longer. The side effects are continuous. When you have more than one medication, and more than one long acting, you can get a new disease or severe exacerbation of another.
Look out for yourself. Read up on your medicines before you take them. Check with your pharmacist who may be of some help (my pharmacist was unaware like my docs). Talk with others who may take the same. I would say call the drug company, but am hesitant to say if they would own up to whatever side effects you may be having.
Medication mimics disease. When in doubt, start with medication adjustment. Discuss it with your doctor, if you are able to get them before you succumb to another disease caused by medication.
Best, safe health to all!
By J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient, patient advocate, and author of the award winning Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
www.twitter.com/MD4U
domingo, 12 de julio de 2009
You Are A Preferred Patient If You Are....?
There is little room for "theirs" and "ours" medicine, and there is very little of it. The myth that doctors, nurses, and health care workers get better or preferential treatment is absolutely preposterous. It' s more like rich patient, poor patient and healthy patient, sick patient. There is more health discrimination than ever amongst people based on sex, money, ethnic, and religious background. This is what we should be concerned about and be doing more to prevent any type of discrimination!
Think as you like; however, many documented experiences of health disparity occur amongst health care professionals by their own health care providers. How pathetic is that? If you are female, you will be more likely to get some "attempted" lack of health care by a doctor who may feel as every woman's symptom is "in her mind", and if you're over 65 the feeling is "who cares". Disabled patients especially those with communication challenges like hearing impairment, are underserved too often. If you are too sick, or they don't know what to do for you, you will be kicked to the curb. Oh, yes! When that happens, you must continue to seek and find the best for you and those you advocate.
Before your health care provider's options "run out", you better run...to you! It is in your best interest to know what illnesses affect you, and to know all about them. With the credible information on the Internet, from books, media, and from real people, you are able to know as much or more than your doctor about what ails you and what works best. The health care providers are there to coach, but it is your game.
Many patients come to me with more information than I already knew on conditions they have. It is good to see they want me to know and learn, too. In return, I read and research what they bring, and talk about what matters to them, what is best for them It would be really nice if more of my personal doctors did that. Doctors that failed to do so have been replaced (or should I say "kicked to the curb") with those that do best by me as a patient. There are good doctors, and there are bad doctors for everyone. It's your choice to take it...or leave it and move on. Someone will give you non discriminatory, preferential treatment as a patient, not by what you do or by by some other limiting parameter like age, sex, etc.
For many doctors I see as a patient, or advocate for someone else, there is no talk of Dr. Richardson. This actually can make it harder for me and them to get the best, most timely, and most cost effective health care. I am J. Richardson Patient. If I have to become Dr. Richardson, my appointment is not made sooner, my co payments remain the same, my health insurance premium goes up, and on and on. My peers, other health workers, and patients have similar stories.
Patients of this great nation, you must see that American health care doesn't care! There are no special favors like great care, and low cost unless you are "proven" 100% healthy, and/ or wealthy, i.e you have no pre-existing condition. Is a national health plan the only way we may see equal care for all? Maybe if we had health coverage like our President and lawmakers, things would be better, and would be in existence by now. After all we were promised that by them while they were campaigning for our trust and official appointment. Instead we are fed almost daily press conferences on healthcare for all repeating the same things in a different way on a different day.
It's your game - coach it, referee it, and play it so that you are the winner, my patients. You are a preferred patient if you are...getting good medical care.
Think as you like; however, many documented experiences of health disparity occur amongst health care professionals by their own health care providers. How pathetic is that? If you are female, you will be more likely to get some "attempted" lack of health care by a doctor who may feel as every woman's symptom is "in her mind", and if you're over 65 the feeling is "who cares". Disabled patients especially those with communication challenges like hearing impairment, are underserved too often. If you are too sick, or they don't know what to do for you, you will be kicked to the curb. Oh, yes! When that happens, you must continue to seek and find the best for you and those you advocate.
Before your health care provider's options "run out", you better run...to you! It is in your best interest to know what illnesses affect you, and to know all about them. With the credible information on the Internet, from books, media, and from real people, you are able to know as much or more than your doctor about what ails you and what works best. The health care providers are there to coach, but it is your game.
Many patients come to me with more information than I already knew on conditions they have. It is good to see they want me to know and learn, too. In return, I read and research what they bring, and talk about what matters to them, what is best for them It would be really nice if more of my personal doctors did that. Doctors that failed to do so have been replaced (or should I say "kicked to the curb") with those that do best by me as a patient. There are good doctors, and there are bad doctors for everyone. It's your choice to take it...or leave it and move on. Someone will give you non discriminatory, preferential treatment as a patient, not by what you do or by by some other limiting parameter like age, sex, etc.
For many doctors I see as a patient, or advocate for someone else, there is no talk of Dr. Richardson. This actually can make it harder for me and them to get the best, most timely, and most cost effective health care. I am J. Richardson Patient. If I have to become Dr. Richardson, my appointment is not made sooner, my co payments remain the same, my health insurance premium goes up, and on and on. My peers, other health workers, and patients have similar stories.
Patients of this great nation, you must see that American health care doesn't care! There are no special favors like great care, and low cost unless you are "proven" 100% healthy, and/ or wealthy, i.e you have no pre-existing condition. Is a national health plan the only way we may see equal care for all? Maybe if we had health coverage like our President and lawmakers, things would be better, and would be in existence by now. After all we were promised that by them while they were campaigning for our trust and official appointment. Instead we are fed almost daily press conferences on healthcare for all repeating the same things in a different way on a different day.
It's your game - coach it, referee it, and play it so that you are the winner, my patients. You are a preferred patient if you are...getting good medical care.
Your Personal #Health Guide on Google Books
Read excerpts at Google Books http://books.google.com/books?id=kPmXiNrg1pYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=patient+handbook+to+medical+care
Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide is written for patients by a medical doctor "to inform and educate patients about medical care". Health maintenance, prevention, early detection, and early treatment are the foundation for great health.
This Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Award winner informs patients about
basic medical care. By reading this how-to reference book you will learn:
Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide is written for patients by a medical doctor "to inform and educate patients about medical care". Health maintenance, prevention, early detection, and early treatment are the foundation for great health.
This Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Award winner informs patients about
basic medical care. By reading this how-to reference book you will learn:
- how to keep a medical diary
- how to get your medical records
- how to document your complete medical history
- what the physical exam should include
- about preventive tests and when to get them
- about tests your doctor orders
- about specialists and other medical providers
- about health care plans and coverage
- how to seek quality health services.
Also featured are "My Health Notes", blank pages for you to write your medical history, questions, and things to discuss with your health care team!
Great health is true wealth!
viernes, 3 de julio de 2009
Health Insurers Sell Funeral Plans
"You may have already planned ahead for funeral expenses." This is the opening line in a brochure found in a doctor's waiting room. The brochure from Emphesys, further states "call me today for a free quote or a personal consultation in the convenience of your home your home" (so they can assess how to get you to the grave sooner?).
Does this sound like the type of reading material you want to see when you go to your doctor's office? This is absolutely appalling! Insurance companies have no shame, and little respect when it comes to advertising and selling their products. It's all about the bottom line, the profits. Life and death. We will give you limited covered health care, as much generic medicine as you need, increase your insurance premiums every year by 25%, and pay for your funeral, too. How thoughtful.
There is a big conflict of interest here - going to doctor's office to stay well and walk out with a brochure on funeral expenses. The biggest conflict is that the company appears to be part of the health insurance group. The Internet search for this company led to this link http://www.manta.com/company/mm8g6r0 listing the web address as http://www.humana.com/ .
Even sadder is the fact that the doctor did not know this brochure was in his office.
Does this sound like the type of reading material you want to see when you go to your doctor's office? This is absolutely appalling! Insurance companies have no shame, and little respect when it comes to advertising and selling their products. It's all about the bottom line, the profits. Life and death. We will give you limited covered health care, as much generic medicine as you need, increase your insurance premiums every year by 25%, and pay for your funeral, too. How thoughtful.
There is a big conflict of interest here - going to doctor's office to stay well and walk out with a brochure on funeral expenses. The biggest conflict is that the company appears to be part of the health insurance group. The Internet search for this company led to this link http://www.manta.com/company/mm8g6r0 listing the web address as http://www.humana.com/ .
Even sadder is the fact that the doctor did not know this brochure was in his office.
viernes, 26 de junio de 2009
Physicians & Celebrity Medicine
What happened to Michael Jackson's personal physician? He was with him at the time of death. Today news reports are that he is nowhere to be found as police search for him. You would think he would be talking with the coroner's office.
Celebrity medicine is a different medicine. Those physicians that we hear about from media reports provide personalized health care to their famous patients. By the time we hear about this sensitive, personal, private informaton something has gone wrong. Even when a personal physician is not involved, medical errors that lead to death are common.
Do these physicians lurk in the shadows waiting to pounce on the rich and famous? For money? For fame? How could someone trained to heal bring harm? It is surely puzzling to me. Even more puzzling is the fact that celebrities like many people fail to practice preventive medicine. Given the means to pay for health expenses and more (like home defibrillators or home clinic) there is a sense that this is not a priority. Then along comes a quack, or unexpected death.
No one is immune to bad medicine.
Celebrity medicine is a different medicine. Those physicians that we hear about from media reports provide personalized health care to their famous patients. By the time we hear about this sensitive, personal, private informaton something has gone wrong. Even when a personal physician is not involved, medical errors that lead to death are common.
Do these physicians lurk in the shadows waiting to pounce on the rich and famous? For money? For fame? How could someone trained to heal bring harm? It is surely puzzling to me. Even more puzzling is the fact that celebrities like many people fail to practice preventive medicine. Given the means to pay for health expenses and more (like home defibrillators or home clinic) there is a sense that this is not a priority. Then along comes a quack, or unexpected death.
No one is immune to bad medicine.
by J. L. Richardson, MD, family medicine physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
martes, 16 de junio de 2009
Summer Skin Care
It's summertime! Remember to practice good skin care by keeping your skin safe from those damaging UVA and UVB rays that cause serious, irreparable sun damage. Follow these steps:
1. Limit sun exposure – avoid 10AM to 3PM, spend less than one hour in direct sun - less or none if fair complexion, burn easily, prone to skin cancer.
2. Wear protective clothing – wide brim hats, long sleeves, long pants, skirts and/ or clothes made with sun protection fabric.
3. Umbrella and shade.
4. Use sunscreen SPF 15 or greater. Put on every hour if sweating or swimming. Put on every area exposed to sun, and be sure to remember behind those ears and on the neck.
5. See your family doctor and/or dermatologist for sunburn, or any suspicious skin spots.
Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking lots of water. Have a fun, safe summer!
by J. L. Richardson, MD, family practice physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
1. Limit sun exposure – avoid 10AM to 3PM, spend less than one hour in direct sun - less or none if fair complexion, burn easily, prone to skin cancer.
2. Wear protective clothing – wide brim hats, long sleeves, long pants, skirts and/ or clothes made with sun protection fabric.
3. Umbrella and shade.
4. Use sunscreen SPF 15 or greater. Put on every hour if sweating or swimming. Put on every area exposed to sun, and be sure to remember behind those ears and on the neck.
5. See your family doctor and/or dermatologist for sunburn, or any suspicious skin spots.
Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking lots of water. Have a fun, safe summer!
by J. L. Richardson, MD, family practice physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
jueves, 11 de junio de 2009
President Obama's Health Care Reform Plan
Did the President sell us a health care overhaul today? Or is it more of the same talk phrased differently in a town hall setting set before the media? SSDD - same stuff, different day.
He discussed the National Health Insurance Exchange that helped fuel his campaign. It is nice to hear a promise that if you like your doctor and health care plan, you will be able to keep them. What other choice do you have with pre-existing conditions? A promise for lower cost would be nice, especially since "health insurance premiums have grown three times faster than wages". Actually, it is more like five times.
This "patchwork system" needs tweaking. Big time. The public option gives people a choice especially if they don't have health insurance. Does it really?
"Every plan should have incentives for preventive care." Incentives are attractive, but is it enough? Do incentives work? What types of incentives are you talking about? Will everybody have access to them, or just those with employer-based health insurance?
It will take "a couple of years" to get it all done. That will be a true miracle from the holy waters of Lourdes. Oh, then the President changes that...it may take four or five years or so. Or longer.
"The more tests I perform the more I get paid" is the "business mentality" of physicians. The more tests doctors perform, the better chance you will get an accurate, timely diagnosis. Those tests that aren't done, are a primary reason for malpractice. Doctors sure could use help with malpractice insurance, especially if medical testing is limited by big business "gatekeepers".
Prevention and wellness is key. The example of obesity and weight loss is a good one, but how realistic is this for the low income 70 year old morbidly obese hypertensive diabetic who is in a wheelchair?
The last question on wellness and prevention covered an incentive example. If you stop smoking, you will see your premium drop. Does this apply to the uninsured? Will you get health insurance if you practice wellness and prevention?
Finally, trillions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid is still not enough. If "we can bend the cost curve down....we're going to be okay". Let's hope so.
Please, "steal my ideas", Mr. President.
See the previous blogs here for a real plan. It is time to act. It is time to stop talking.
by J. L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
He discussed the National Health Insurance Exchange that helped fuel his campaign. It is nice to hear a promise that if you like your doctor and health care plan, you will be able to keep them. What other choice do you have with pre-existing conditions? A promise for lower cost would be nice, especially since "health insurance premiums have grown three times faster than wages". Actually, it is more like five times.
This "patchwork system" needs tweaking. Big time. The public option gives people a choice especially if they don't have health insurance. Does it really?
"Every plan should have incentives for preventive care." Incentives are attractive, but is it enough? Do incentives work? What types of incentives are you talking about? Will everybody have access to them, or just those with employer-based health insurance?
It will take "a couple of years" to get it all done. That will be a true miracle from the holy waters of Lourdes. Oh, then the President changes that...it may take four or five years or so. Or longer.
"The more tests I perform the more I get paid" is the "business mentality" of physicians. The more tests doctors perform, the better chance you will get an accurate, timely diagnosis. Those tests that aren't done, are a primary reason for malpractice. Doctors sure could use help with malpractice insurance, especially if medical testing is limited by big business "gatekeepers".
Prevention and wellness is key. The example of obesity and weight loss is a good one, but how realistic is this for the low income 70 year old morbidly obese hypertensive diabetic who is in a wheelchair?
The last question on wellness and prevention covered an incentive example. If you stop smoking, you will see your premium drop. Does this apply to the uninsured? Will you get health insurance if you practice wellness and prevention?
Finally, trillions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid is still not enough. If "we can bend the cost curve down....we're going to be okay". Let's hope so.
Please, "steal my ideas", Mr. President.
See the previous blogs here for a real plan. It is time to act. It is time to stop talking.
by J. L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
miércoles, 10 de junio de 2009
ABC's of Healthcare Reform
The link below on the ABC's of healthcare reform is from my friend, Kathleen O'Connor. Her organization, CodeBlueNow! (http://www.codebluenow.org/ ), is dedicated to health care reform. Her effort is one of the best around. Ms. O'Connor started this after challenging the American public in a contest to write about their thoughts on how America's health care system could be fixed. Out of the 2003 entrants CodeBlueNow! was born.
Thank you Ms. O'Connor for the opportunity to submit my action plan, Building An American Health System. I was one of the ten finalists.
As we look forward to the President's national health care plan being passed soon, let us all speak up for the best health care we deserve. It is time for successful CPR.
http://www.codebluenow.org/ABCs%20of%20Reform--The%20Alphabet%20of%20Health%20Care.final.4-27.1doc.pdf
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
Thank you Ms. O'Connor for the opportunity to submit my action plan, Building An American Health System. I was one of the ten finalists.
As we look forward to the President's national health care plan being passed soon, let us all speak up for the best health care we deserve. It is time for successful CPR.
http://www.codebluenow.org/ABCs%20of%20Reform--The%20Alphabet%20of%20Health%20Care.final.4-27.1doc.pdf
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family physician, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com/
martes, 9 de junio de 2009
Building An American Health System
These are the notes from my Power Point presentation of my 2003 research paper, Building an American Health System. The medical budget and financing was based on a federal deficit. This was about $400 billion dollars which was greater than the HHS budget alone. In 6 years the only thing that has changed is the exorbitant price we all pay.
Slide 1 Building an American Health System = the best health care for everyone by bringing
best of all medical systems together.
FOCUS of my paper is to bring best of all medical systems together = government, private, international – much of infrastructure in place especially with government = agencies, IT, monies
Slide 2 Information technology = CIA = Communication Information Automation
Communication = medical record creation, maintenance, transmission
Information = education + wellness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment
Automation = Internet wired wireless medicine
One of the first things to get the BEST is to maximize IT, info tech
uses CIA…which connects patient to doctor to health providers – thus creating uniformity w/ easy accessibility
Communication based on most important document, the medical record = it’s creation, maintenance and transmission
Information primary for health education
Automation brings it all together seamlessly and efficiently
Slide 3 System Update = uniform with continutiy of care; timely and easy acces to health care;
eduation on wellness, prevention. and treatment based on prevalence of disease and
proven preventive measures; provide more information to patient; serve everyone
In view of the rise in elder and chronic medical illness a uniform system allows access anywhere, anytime i.e healthcare obtained from every state, doctors licensed in every state – this allows timely, quality care – the best –
USPTF and Healthy People 2010 exists for prevention – HHS has many programs from community to federal level and its systems which have shown to have the best care - more efficient care and lower cost than the private sector
Slide 4 To DO List - use government + private "bests" = merger; extend IT infrastructure,
data base
This will create uniform and easily accessible system for everyone from patient to doctor and in between
there is a ways to go when look at federal deficit at an all time high! As is health spending at over $1 trillion!
suggestions for financing are outlined in my paper as are resources already in place
Slide 5 GOALS - Uniform continuous qualitymedical care to everyone regardless of cost of
of pre-existing condition; educate and inform; practice wellness and prevention to
have a Healthy America.
the goals are ...
As the cartoon in depicts the doctor telling the patient “your HMO won’t cover any illness contracted in the 20th century” = that was in 2000 – if American health system continues the way it is this is a dilemma we all potentially face and are beginning to experience.
Slide 1 Building an American Health System = the best health care for everyone by bringing
best of all medical systems together.
FOCUS of my paper is to bring best of all medical systems together = government, private, international – much of infrastructure in place especially with government = agencies, IT, monies
Slide 2 Information technology = CIA = Communication Information Automation
Communication = medical record creation, maintenance, transmission
Information = education + wellness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment
Automation = Internet wired wireless medicine
One of the first things to get the BEST is to maximize IT, info tech
uses CIA…which connects patient to doctor to health providers – thus creating uniformity w/ easy accessibility
Communication based on most important document, the medical record = it’s creation, maintenance and transmission
Information primary for health education
Automation brings it all together seamlessly and efficiently
Slide 3 System Update = uniform with continutiy of care; timely and easy acces to health care;
eduation on wellness, prevention. and treatment based on prevalence of disease and
proven preventive measures; provide more information to patient; serve everyone
In view of the rise in elder and chronic medical illness a uniform system allows access anywhere, anytime i.e healthcare obtained from every state, doctors licensed in every state – this allows timely, quality care – the best –
USPTF and Healthy People 2010 exists for prevention – HHS has many programs from community to federal level and its systems which have shown to have the best care - more efficient care and lower cost than the private sector
Slide 4 To DO List - use government + private "bests" = merger; extend IT infrastructure,
data base
This will create uniform and easily accessible system for everyone from patient to doctor and in between
there is a ways to go when look at federal deficit at an all time high! As is health spending at over $1 trillion!
suggestions for financing are outlined in my paper as are resources already in place
Slide 5 GOALS - Uniform continuous qualitymedical care to everyone regardless of cost of
of pre-existing condition; educate and inform; practice wellness and prevention to
have a Healthy America.
the goals are ...
As the cartoon in depicts the doctor telling the patient “your HMO won’t cover any illness contracted in the 20th century” = that was in 2000 – if American health system continues the way it is this is a dilemma we all potentially face and are beginning to experience.
martes, 2 de junio de 2009
sábado, 30 de mayo de 2009
Sicker from Med or Illness
You just had that coronary heart bypass, and you have been prescribed several new medication pertaining to that and other conditions that popped up during your hospitalization for the surgery. You go to see specialists for these new diagnoses, and you get more medication. So you have over ten different medications to take now. You thought you would be getting along much better by now, but something is just not right. Are your conditions getting worse?
You may think that you are getting worse from the illness, but could it be the medicine? You decide to get out the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) and the Internet to research the medication you are taking. Upon discharge from the hospital you received information sheets about each medicine, but the information seems so scanty. Sure enough, you are right.
The PDR and Internet gives details about side effects and drug interactions you had no idea could occur. You wonder why the doctor didn't tell you one of the drugs could cause blindness, fatal lung disease, hepatitis, hyper- and hypothyroidism, loss of appetite, anorexia, constipation, worsening of the condition for which it has been given, etc., etc. As you read further you find this drug should not be used with two other medications you have been prescribed.
You no longer have to wonder why your recovery has been slower than expected, and why you feel so bad. You have been overmedicated! Here you were thinking you were getting sicker from your diagnoses and surgery.
Take the time to read about medicines you are prescribed. You may find that you are not as sick as you thought you were. Overmedication can easily mimic as well as bring on symptoms of many disease conditions, and make you feel worse than that for which you are being treated.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family practice doctor, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, a Writers Digest International Self- Published Book Award winner.
www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
www.twitter.com/MD4U
You may think that you are getting worse from the illness, but could it be the medicine? You decide to get out the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) and the Internet to research the medication you are taking. Upon discharge from the hospital you received information sheets about each medicine, but the information seems so scanty. Sure enough, you are right.
The PDR and Internet gives details about side effects and drug interactions you had no idea could occur. You wonder why the doctor didn't tell you one of the drugs could cause blindness, fatal lung disease, hepatitis, hyper- and hypothyroidism, loss of appetite, anorexia, constipation, worsening of the condition for which it has been given, etc., etc. As you read further you find this drug should not be used with two other medications you have been prescribed.
You no longer have to wonder why your recovery has been slower than expected, and why you feel so bad. You have been overmedicated! Here you were thinking you were getting sicker from your diagnoses and surgery.
Take the time to read about medicines you are prescribed. You may find that you are not as sick as you thought you were. Overmedication can easily mimic as well as bring on symptoms of many disease conditions, and make you feel worse than that for which you are being treated.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, family practice doctor, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, a Writers Digest International Self- Published Book Award winner.
www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
www.twitter.com/MD4U
jueves, 28 de mayo de 2009
Medical Specialists & Economic Stimulus
From the email bag for today's healthy belly laugh:
Apparently the American Medical Association has weighed in on the new
economic stimulus package....
The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not
to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the
Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.
The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.
Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.
Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said,
'Oh, Grow up!'
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the
Radiologists could see right through it.
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists
thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said,
"This puts a whole new face on the matter."
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were
pissed off at the whole idea.
The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the
Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to
the assholes in Washington.
Apparently the American Medical Association has weighed in on the new
economic stimulus package....
The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not
to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the
Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.
The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.
Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.
Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said,
'Oh, Grow up!'
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the
Radiologists could see right through it.
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists
thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said,
"This puts a whole new face on the matter."
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were
pissed off at the whole idea.
The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the
Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to
the assholes in Washington.
miércoles, 27 de mayo de 2009
MEDICAL HISTORY FORM
Your medical history is the cornerstone of your medical record.
Print, fill out, and use it to keep up with your health.
Share it with your healthcare providers, and take a copy with
you when traveling.
MEDICAL HISTORY FORM
NAME__________________________________________
DATE OF BIRTH______________________
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER_____________
INSURANCE COMPANY__________________
INSURANCE ID #_______________________
PHONE_____________ FAX___________
ADDRESS__________________________
CITY_________________STATE______
ZIP_______COUNTRY_______________
EMAIL______________________________________________
PAST MEDICAL HISTORY
ALLERGIES______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
DRUGREACTIONS________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
DIAGNOSES & MEDICAL CONDITIONS (include year diagnosed)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SURGERY/ OPERATIONS (include year done)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEDICATIONS (list prescription, over-the-counter, foods, herbs
also write dosage and how often taken)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PAST MEDICATIONS (list anything you have taken and stopped – note why it was stopped)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FAMILY HISTORY (list medical conditions in family members – list ages, list if deceased and reason)
MOTHER____AGE________
LIVING: YES___NO____
FATHER____AGE_________
LIVING: YES___NO____
______________________________________________________________________________________________
SISTERS_____AGES_________
LIVING: YES___NO____
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
BROTHERS __AGES_________
LIVING: YES___NO___
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
GRANDMOTHER (Mother's mother) AGE__________LIVING: YES___NO___
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
GRANDMOTHER (Father's mother) AGE__________LIVING: YES__ NO___
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
GRANDFATHER (Mother's father) AGE__________LIVING: YES___NO___
GRANDFATHER (Father's father) AGE___________LIVING: YES___NO___
______________________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER RELATIVES (list any more sisters, brothers, great grandparents, etc. especially those with medical conditions)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER MEDICAL TREATMENTS (list any other treatments like prayer, massage, chiropractor, exercise, physical therapy, etc.)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SOCIAL HISTORY
Home: lives alone___
lives with family___
lives with friend____
lives in facility_____facility name, address____________________year moved in____________
Marital: Single___Married____Divorced___Widow/Widower_____
Use of cane___ walker___ wheelchair___prosthetic_____
Other___________________________________________
Alcohol consumption:
How many times per day/week/year?________________
How much per drink?____________________________
Cigarette use: Yes___ No___
How many per day?________
At what age did you start?_______
Sexual: Are you active? Yes___No___
Drug use: Yes___ No___
OCCUPATIONS/ JOBS/SCHOOLING
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MY MEDICAL NOTES
Use this page to list any other medical history
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
lunes, 25 de mayo de 2009
Treatment - Alternative & Conventional
With all the controversy surrounding whether a child with cancer should have conventional chemotherapy or alternative treatment, it can be hard to know what to do. Prayer and meditation are tops in alternative treatments patients use. It works. So why aren't more doctors recommending it along with all the other treatments? Why does conventional treatment get first choice?
Massage, acupuncture and other alternative modalities can be just as effective with better results, less side effects. Treatments and medicines used over 2000 years ago on Eastern medicine are dismissed and discouraged as fist line treatments. Evidence based studies is the buzzword for medical treatments that works best today. Drug trials over a few months to years take precedence over tried and true alternative treatments.
One size does not fit all. Treatments must be customized to each patient. This takes careful history taking, physical exam, in conjunction with other tests - conventional and alternative. All aspects of medical treatment must be respected and offered to patients so they can make a fully informed medical decision.
Even more discouraging is that health insurance rarely covers any alternative treatments. For a person with a chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis, insurance will cover addictive potent pain medications when routine massages and/or acupuncture and/or routine conventional physical therapy offer better pain control, and ongoing daily function. Drug addiction is covered by insurance over non addicting complimentary treatment even knowing that rehabilitation for addiction will incur extra cost and suffering for the patient.
What do you choose? Are you willing to pay extra for treatments that your insurance does not cover?
by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienhandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
Massage, acupuncture and other alternative modalities can be just as effective with better results, less side effects. Treatments and medicines used over 2000 years ago on Eastern medicine are dismissed and discouraged as fist line treatments. Evidence based studies is the buzzword for medical treatments that works best today. Drug trials over a few months to years take precedence over tried and true alternative treatments.
One size does not fit all. Treatments must be customized to each patient. This takes careful history taking, physical exam, in conjunction with other tests - conventional and alternative. All aspects of medical treatment must be respected and offered to patients so they can make a fully informed medical decision.
Even more discouraging is that health insurance rarely covers any alternative treatments. For a person with a chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis, insurance will cover addictive potent pain medications when routine massages and/or acupuncture and/or routine conventional physical therapy offer better pain control, and ongoing daily function. Drug addiction is covered by insurance over non addicting complimentary treatment even knowing that rehabilitation for addiction will incur extra cost and suffering for the patient.
What do you choose? Are you willing to pay extra for treatments that your insurance does not cover?
by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://www.mypatienhandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
miércoles, 20 de mayo de 2009
Medical Marijuana
Medicinal uses of marijuana prove beneficial to patients especially those with cancer, pain, AIDS, MS, glaucoma, and many more chronic non terminal illnesses. Like so many forms of alternative and complimentary medical treatments, it has been viewed with lots of controversy and skepticism because studies have also shown it to be harmful. Is this unlike any other medicine that is legal? Really, no.
As controversial as it may be, it is legal in some states for medicinal use. How can this be fair? Who gets to decide who gets a cannabis prescription to "take as directed whenever for whatever"? The state of Ohio is currently considering the Ohio Medical Compassion Act which would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. The title of the act itself is a testament.
Other things to consider in making marijuana legal: decrease drug related crimes; decrease money spent on drug crimes; give farmers a moneymaking crop (as pot and hemp).
If it were legal and taxed, it would be a high healing crime reduction money maker.
As controversial as it may be, it is legal in some states for medicinal use. How can this be fair? Who gets to decide who gets a cannabis prescription to "take as directed whenever for whatever"? The state of Ohio is currently considering the Ohio Medical Compassion Act which would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. The title of the act itself is a testament.
Other things to consider in making marijuana legal: decrease drug related crimes; decrease money spent on drug crimes; give farmers a moneymaking crop (as pot and hemp).
If it were legal and taxed, it would be a high healing crime reduction money maker.
domingo, 10 de mayo de 2009
Women's Health Week Checkup
Ladies, it's time to schedule your routine screenings and appointments to include:
- mammogram/ MRI for breast cancer
- PAP smear & HPV test for cervical cancer
- stool check for blood (fecal occult blood test, FOBT) for colorectal cancer
- cardiology doctor for cardiovascular prevention(get EKG, ECHO, and thallium stress test if indicated)
- bone density scan to check for osteoporsis
- counseling for smoking cessation, alcohol/drug dependence, and domestic violence
- evaluation for depression and other mental disorders if necessary
- complete physical exam, and routine blood tests.
Get in 5 to 10 minutes of exercise a day at least and eat healthy! Laugh a lot and love a lot!
by J. L. Richardson, MD, family practice, author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
miércoles, 6 de mayo de 2009
Pandemic Pandemonium?
I wrote this comment to post on a blog post entitled,"Get Ready for Pandemic". ** Thanks to the blog for moderating on my comment. Posting it on this blog may reach more people.
Dr. Flynn & Dr. Redlener, this is a great assessment and all so true. After seeing the actual response, and reading the “unfinished” (states Stage 3 is in progress) 336 page HHS Pandemic Flu Guide, The Pandemic Toolkit from Roche (makers of Tamiflu), pandemicflu.gov, and much more, we have so much more to do.
It would be nice to know that the national stockpile has more than the 50 million doses* for a 300 million plus population, many who are not able to afford it.
Add to the pandemic flu all the other natural disasters occurring daily, and it is easy to see that the health system and all systems will have a tough challenge to keep all safe. As you say, individuals must take responsibility and communication must be ongoing.
Thanks for this great article.
My footnotes added here:
*Doctrine of HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan circa 2005, page 6,
"4. Quantities of antiviral drugs sufficient to treat 25% of the US population should be stockpiled." (how did they get this number?) and "8. At the onset of the pandemic, antiviral drugs from public stockpiles will be distributed to health care providers for administration to pre-determined priority groups." (who exactly is this?)
Are we ready for a pandemic? Or pandemic pandemonium?
by J.L. Richardson, MD family medicine doctor, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, http://mypatienthandbook.com/ .
More emergency information at Emergency Exchange, http://emergencyexchange.blogspot.com/ .
**http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/05/still-unprepared-for-a-lethal-pandemic/
Dr. Flynn & Dr. Redlener, this is a great assessment and all so true. After seeing the actual response, and reading the “unfinished” (states Stage 3 is in progress) 336 page HHS Pandemic Flu Guide, The Pandemic Toolkit from Roche (makers of Tamiflu), pandemicflu.gov, and much more, we have so much more to do.
It would be nice to know that the national stockpile has more than the 50 million doses* for a 300 million plus population, many who are not able to afford it.
Add to the pandemic flu all the other natural disasters occurring daily, and it is easy to see that the health system and all systems will have a tough challenge to keep all safe. As you say, individuals must take responsibility and communication must be ongoing.
Thanks for this great article.
My footnotes added here:
*Doctrine of HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan circa 2005, page 6,
"4. Quantities of antiviral drugs sufficient to treat 25% of the US population should be stockpiled." (how did they get this number?) and "8. At the onset of the pandemic, antiviral drugs from public stockpiles will be distributed to health care providers for administration to pre-determined priority groups." (who exactly is this?)
Are we ready for a pandemic? Or pandemic pandemonium?
by J.L. Richardson, MD family medicine doctor, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, http://mypatienthandbook.com/ .
More emergency information at Emergency Exchange, http://emergencyexchange.blogspot.com/ .
**http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/05/still-unprepared-for-a-lethal-pandemic/
domingo, 3 de mayo de 2009
Medication Information for Patients
Should patients receive the same information about medication that doctors get? YES!
The information from the drug company that comes with the medication should be given to the patient. After all the patient is the one taking the medicine. The benefits and the risks should be readily available; however, this is very seldom the case. Most of the time the doctor has not read this information, and does not give it to the patient. There is usually a lot to read. There is so much to read that most drug companies use extremely small print on a 10 foot long sliver of paper to tell about the drug. Fortunately, this information is now available on the Internet drug company web sites.
How many doctors or pharmacists even get to the last page of "patient counseling information"? If there is specific patient information, why is it at the end? Why is there information "for doctors only"? Why is the patient information so different from the doctor information?
Medication errors occur far too frequently to leave the patient out. Medication awareness for patients should be as important as diagnosis and treatment. Full disclosure of the good, bad and ugly effects of medication should be available to anyone who wants to know about it - especially the one taking it.
By J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient, patient advocate, and author of the award winning Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd - book excerpts read by author.
www.twitter.com/drjfpmd
The information from the drug company that comes with the medication should be given to the patient. After all the patient is the one taking the medicine. The benefits and the risks should be readily available; however, this is very seldom the case. Most of the time the doctor has not read this information, and does not give it to the patient. There is usually a lot to read. There is so much to read that most drug companies use extremely small print on a 10 foot long sliver of paper to tell about the drug. Fortunately, this information is now available on the Internet drug company web sites.
How many doctors or pharmacists even get to the last page of "patient counseling information"? If there is specific patient information, why is it at the end? Why is there information "for doctors only"? Why is the patient information so different from the doctor information?
Medication errors occur far too frequently to leave the patient out. Medication awareness for patients should be as important as diagnosis and treatment. Full disclosure of the good, bad and ugly effects of medication should be available to anyone who wants to know about it - especially the one taking it.
By J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient, patient advocate, and author of the award winning Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd - book excerpts read by author.
www.twitter.com/drjfpmd
martes, 28 de abril de 2009
Missed Diagnosis - Oooops!
Doctors are missing diagnoses especially with cancer - OVER 50%!!
Are you getting the right treatment? A 2006 study* of 307 closed malpractice claims revealed that many missed or delayed diagnoses in outpatients lead to serious harm, some fatal. In this study, 30% resulted in death! Adverse outcomes occurred in 59%.
The most missed diagnoses were cancer (breast and colorectal primarily), infections, fracture, and heart attacks. Fifty-nine percent of errors were associated with cancer diagnosis - or should I say misdiagnosis? Most of these malpractice claims (59% again) showed that diagnostic errors were significant.
The most common reason for failure to diagnose was failure to order the right test (55%). The other reasons were:
-failure to follow up (45%)
-failure to obtain a complete thorough medical history and physical
exam (42%)
-wrong interpretation of medical tests (37%)
Some cases were cited where the doctor failed to check the test results, or to tell the patient the results.
This data is truly mind blowing! Though a small study, it carries a lot of weight. The percentages are phenomenally high! How can this be happening in the most medically advanced country in the world? The fact is, it's happening. It is more common than we think - hidden, not talked about. What can you do to keep it from happening to you?
Has your doctor discussed preventive tests for cancer detection? Of course, you should have a routine complete medical history and physical exam first. Using this information your doctor will know what tests you may need. If cancer runs in your family, you really want to consider preventive cancer screening.
The medical history and physical exam give your medical facts. Findings on physical exam may suggest cancer for which testing is needed. Some tests considered for routine cancer screening are:
-mammogram, MRI - breast cancer
-PSA (prostate specific antigen) - prostate
cancer
-colonoscopy - colon cancer
-stool blood check - colon cancer
-PAP smear - cervical cancer
-complete blood count - blood cancer
-CT or MRI scan - lung cancer, brain cancer
-pelvic sonogram - ovarian cancer
-body scan (neck to buttocks and in between) - body (this scan shows other things ,
too).
Screening tests save lives. Talk to your doctor. Be sure your doctor goes over the test results with you and explains EVERYTHING! Leave with your questions answered! Be sure to follow up with your doctor to prevent any delays.
Get a copy of your test results. That way you will know if you were told everything and that the information is accurate. Research your results and diagnosis. Things you don't understand, ask again. Getting a second (and sometimes tiebreaker third because you were told different things by each doctor!) opinion is a reasonable research tool, also.
Patients must be their own advocate and take charge of their health. Health maintenance and prevention are so important to one's quality of life. Make it an important part of yours. Remember to do your own monthly breast exams for both sexes, and monthly scrotal check for the males.
Great health is true wealth!
(*from AHRQ, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, publication "Research Activities" February 2007 from study in Annals of Internal Medicine, 10/3/06)
J.L. Richardson, M.D., is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
Are you getting the right treatment? A 2006 study* of 307 closed malpractice claims revealed that many missed or delayed diagnoses in outpatients lead to serious harm, some fatal. In this study, 30% resulted in death! Adverse outcomes occurred in 59%.
The most missed diagnoses were cancer (breast and colorectal primarily), infections, fracture, and heart attacks. Fifty-nine percent of errors were associated with cancer diagnosis - or should I say misdiagnosis? Most of these malpractice claims (59% again) showed that diagnostic errors were significant.
The most common reason for failure to diagnose was failure to order the right test (55%). The other reasons were:
-failure to follow up (45%)
-failure to obtain a complete thorough medical history and physical
exam (42%)
-wrong interpretation of medical tests (37%)
Some cases were cited where the doctor failed to check the test results, or to tell the patient the results.
This data is truly mind blowing! Though a small study, it carries a lot of weight. The percentages are phenomenally high! How can this be happening in the most medically advanced country in the world? The fact is, it's happening. It is more common than we think - hidden, not talked about. What can you do to keep it from happening to you?
Has your doctor discussed preventive tests for cancer detection? Of course, you should have a routine complete medical history and physical exam first. Using this information your doctor will know what tests you may need. If cancer runs in your family, you really want to consider preventive cancer screening.
The medical history and physical exam give your medical facts. Findings on physical exam may suggest cancer for which testing is needed. Some tests considered for routine cancer screening are:
-mammogram, MRI - breast cancer
-PSA (prostate specific antigen) - prostate
cancer
-colonoscopy - colon cancer
-stool blood check - colon cancer
-PAP smear - cervical cancer
-complete blood count - blood cancer
-CT or MRI scan - lung cancer, brain cancer
-pelvic sonogram - ovarian cancer
-body scan (neck to buttocks and in between) - body (this scan shows other things ,
too).
Screening tests save lives. Talk to your doctor. Be sure your doctor goes over the test results with you and explains EVERYTHING! Leave with your questions answered! Be sure to follow up with your doctor to prevent any delays.
Get a copy of your test results. That way you will know if you were told everything and that the information is accurate. Research your results and diagnosis. Things you don't understand, ask again. Getting a second (and sometimes tiebreaker third because you were told different things by each doctor!) opinion is a reasonable research tool, also.
Patients must be their own advocate and take charge of their health. Health maintenance and prevention are so important to one's quality of life. Make it an important part of yours. Remember to do your own monthly breast exams for both sexes, and monthly scrotal check for the males.
Great health is true wealth!
(*from AHRQ, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, publication "Research Activities" February 2007 from study in Annals of Internal Medicine, 10/3/06)
J.L. Richardson, M.D., is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
domingo, 26 de abril de 2009
Swine Flu Resources
Swine flu information can be found at the sites below. If you have symptoms or have been exposed, seek medical attention.
Today the number of KNOWN identified cases of swine flu in the US is at 20. "CDC has NOT recommended that people avoid travel at this time."
Follow RSS feed link for current CDC updates.
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
CDC RSS Feed
http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/createrss.asp?t=r&c=252&showall=1
US Dept of Health & Human Services (HHS)
http://hhs.gov/
Follow CDC on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/CDCemergency
Your local health department is another good resource. Find your local health department at
http://www.healthguideusa.org/local_health_departments.htm
Stay safe. Wash your hands and maintain good hygiene.
by J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
www.mypatienthandbook.com
NOTE: The links are now working with a click. you can also Copy and Paste, or type web address into your browser. I finally figured this out. Thank you.
Today the number of KNOWN identified cases of swine flu in the US is at 20. "CDC has NOT recommended that people avoid travel at this time."
Follow RSS feed link for current CDC updates.
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
CDC RSS Feed
http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/createrss.asp?t=r&c=252&showall=1
US Dept of Health & Human Services (HHS)
http://hhs.gov/
Follow CDC on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/CDCemergency
Your local health department is another good resource. Find your local health department at
http://www.healthguideusa.org/local_health_departments.htm
Stay safe. Wash your hands and maintain good hygiene.
by J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
www.mypatienthandbook.com
NOTE: The links are now working with a click. you can also Copy and Paste, or type web address into your browser. I finally figured this out. Thank you.
lunes, 20 de abril de 2009
Doctor Search on the Internet - Healthy Thing to Do?
Have you looked your doctors up on the Internet? When you do, you may find incomplete inconsistencies. Many web sites had no listing for several doctors I was looking up. So I looked at some others.
I went to the state medical board pages. I found that some doctors listed on the other web pages were not listed on the state board pages. Another doctor is listed with an active and an inactive license (several are listed like this). This doctor’s medical education and training have been done overseas. Some doctors have no residency training listed. This doctor has been in practice for 45 years, and is licensed in two countries and two other states. The doctor’s address is listed as a PO Box.
The type of information listed was different amongst the states. For instance, one state listed one line of information – license number, status of license, present location, disciplinary action (yes or no, not what), date of issue and expiration. Another state gives this plus the doctor’s education and training information, details of disciplinary legal action, other states/ countries where licensed, and board certification status. There were inactive licenses that were listed as active in another state’s information.
These incomplete inconsistencies are rather consistent. Do you know about your doctor’s background? Is your doctor properly trained and licensed? Which information is correct?
The American Medical Association (AMA) has a page with links to the state boards for licensing. Check your doctor at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2645.html. Compare it to the information at “doctor finder” sites. Incomplete inconsistency.
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com
I went to the state medical board pages. I found that some doctors listed on the other web pages were not listed on the state board pages. Another doctor is listed with an active and an inactive license (several are listed like this). This doctor’s medical education and training have been done overseas. Some doctors have no residency training listed. This doctor has been in practice for 45 years, and is licensed in two countries and two other states. The doctor’s address is listed as a PO Box.
The type of information listed was different amongst the states. For instance, one state listed one line of information – license number, status of license, present location, disciplinary action (yes or no, not what), date of issue and expiration. Another state gives this plus the doctor’s education and training information, details of disciplinary legal action, other states/ countries where licensed, and board certification status. There were inactive licenses that were listed as active in another state’s information.
These incomplete inconsistencies are rather consistent. Do you know about your doctor’s background? Is your doctor properly trained and licensed? Which information is correct?
The American Medical Association (AMA) has a page with links to the state boards for licensing. Check your doctor at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2645.html. Compare it to the information at “doctor finder” sites. Incomplete inconsistency.
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor and author of "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
http://www.mypatienthandbook.com
jueves, 16 de abril de 2009
TEST YOURSELF?
Many doctors are concerned that some tests like the body scan will lead to unnecessary procedures that could harm patients. Often these tests may show abnormal things that are “normal” meaning that the abnormal finding is something that is just there. It is benign, and not life threatening.
What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with a test that they have done on their own? The patient has decided that I may need this test because heart disease, and /or cancer runs in my family, plus heart disease is the number one killer. Should I have a heart scan, body scan or a virtual colonoscopy? My doctor has told me that tests like these may find things that are benign, but something serious may show up. It could be something that would turn up in a few years and possibly be life threatening, but if I check now maybe I can do something about it.
What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with abnormal test results from a test they orders and paid for themselves?
1. Repeat the test
2. Refer the patient to a specialist
3. Do more tests to check it out
4. Scold the patient and say “It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.
What does the patient do?
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family practice doctor, and author of the award winning "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
http://mypatienthandbook.com
What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with a test that they have done on their own? The patient has decided that I may need this test because heart disease, and /or cancer runs in my family, plus heart disease is the number one killer. Should I have a heart scan, body scan or a virtual colonoscopy? My doctor has told me that tests like these may find things that are benign, but something serious may show up. It could be something that would turn up in a few years and possibly be life threatening, but if I check now maybe I can do something about it.
What does the doctor do when a patient comes in with abnormal test results from a test they orders and paid for themselves?
1. Repeat the test
2. Refer the patient to a specialist
3. Do more tests to check it out
4. Scold the patient and say “It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.
What does the patient do?
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family practice doctor, and author of the award winning "Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide".
http://mypatienthandbook.com
lunes, 13 de abril de 2009
Patient Advocate Vital Signs
The “Vital Signs” of patient advocacy are important. We look for these in all our health care providers.
My health care providers are trusting communicators with caring compassion that provide education, information, and knowledge.
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family practice doctor, patient, patient advocate and the author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com
- TRUST
- CARING
- COMMUNICATION
- COMPASSION
- EDUCATION
- INFORMATION
- KNOWLEDGE
A patient advocate is someone who cares for and helps monitor patient's medical care. You should be your own patient advocate as well as an advocate for loved ones, friends. Doctors should act as their patients’ advocates. This seals the patient-doctor bond and assures them that they will get everything they need in a timely manner.
My health care providers are trusting communicators with caring compassion that provide education, information, and knowledge.
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family practice doctor, patient, patient advocate and the author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com
martes, 7 de abril de 2009
Preventive Medical Screening
Doctors and organizations may rant and rave about some preventive medical tests as "out of date". Think about the people you know who found a breast lump or had a high blood PSA test and later found out it was cancer. Today, in one day, I talked to three friends who told me how preventive tests saved their lives. They are all long term survivors.
Early detection and treatment as well as prevention can save your life. The tests are out there. You must know about them and decide for your self. Every life counts.
J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, and patient advocate is the author of the award winning Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
Early detection and treatment as well as prevention can save your life. The tests are out there. You must know about them and decide for your self. Every life counts.
J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, and patient advocate is the author of the award winning Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
domingo, 5 de abril de 2009
Colonscopy for Colon Cancer Screening
Have you had your colonoscopy?
The Hemoccult test checks for blood that is not detected by the human eye. After you complete your stool sample cards, return to your PCP by mail or in person. They will be checked by your doctor. Any GI exam without this test and/or a rectal is incomplete.
Best health!
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, author and publisher of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
- baseline if 50 years of age
- history of colon cancer in family
- personal history of colon polyps, cancer
- rectal bleeding
- have a disease that is a risk like Crohn's disease
- chronic abdominal pain
- rapid unexplained weight loss
The Hemoccult test checks for blood that is not detected by the human eye. After you complete your stool sample cards, return to your PCP by mail or in person. They will be checked by your doctor. Any GI exam without this test and/or a rectal is incomplete.
Best health!
J.L. Richardson, MD is a family medicine doctor, patient advocate, author and publisher of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
miércoles, 1 de abril de 2009
Deaf Health - Can You Hear Me?
I ran into a 43 year old gentleman at a local place of business. He asked me for money for food. I started talking to him and saw that he was reading my lips. He read lips very well. He failed to understand sign language. We were able to communicate enough to exchange names, and find that he was deaf from an early age possibly from birth. He was unsure. He was looking for work. We discussed how it is hard for many deaf people to get jobs because they are deaf.
I tipped him for his pleasant conversation and recognized the sadness of it all.
After this encounter with fate, I reflected on yet another deaf person that had been failed by the American health system. How this system is able to allow a hearing impaired young man get well into adulthood without proper medical attention to assist with his deafness. He should know how to sign. He should have money. He should have work. He should have health care. He should have been covered since birth.
I know this scenario all to well. I have a brother who was born deaf. The system is still failing him all around, too. He and most of his deaf community are at “poverty level”. Rather than the system continuing all assistance beyond 18 years of age, they encourage working versus working plus government assistance. How does the government expect him to pay money he supposedly owes them over a 10-year debt? Does he really owe them? Without steady employment and government assistance, it is impossible. Each time he applies for government help like Medicaid, Social Security Disability Income, etc., he is cast aside with uncertainty.
It is truly devastating to the human spirit. He has struggled with part-time jobs at minimum wage with no benefits. I have helped him find the medical care he needs. The whole family chips in to help him in all ways. It is a family affair. Many of his doctors give generous discounts when he “tells” them he is uninsured. This has really helped him get the medical care he needs. Over the years I have collected his records and taught him to work his way through the medical system.
His medical record is his basic communication tool along with reading lips, and writing things down. He is a master at sign language (and so many things), but none of his doctors know sign language. He requires an interpreter, but it is difficult to arrange when you are deaf and no one knows your language or how to use the TDD (telecommunication device for the deaf) phone devices or operator services. You can even do it on line. How do you get a doctor appointment? Often the emergency room becomes the primary care clinic.
If you are not heard, you are ignored or misunderstood. We must open our ears to the deaf and all people with disabilities. To be born deaf is not ever hearing anything. It makes us realize the importance of communication, another vital sign.
J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor and patient advocate, is the author of PatientHandbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com
I tipped him for his pleasant conversation and recognized the sadness of it all.
After this encounter with fate, I reflected on yet another deaf person that had been failed by the American health system. How this system is able to allow a hearing impaired young man get well into adulthood without proper medical attention to assist with his deafness. He should know how to sign. He should have money. He should have work. He should have health care. He should have been covered since birth.
I know this scenario all to well. I have a brother who was born deaf. The system is still failing him all around, too. He and most of his deaf community are at “poverty level”. Rather than the system continuing all assistance beyond 18 years of age, they encourage working versus working plus government assistance. How does the government expect him to pay money he supposedly owes them over a 10-year debt? Does he really owe them? Without steady employment and government assistance, it is impossible. Each time he applies for government help like Medicaid, Social Security Disability Income, etc., he is cast aside with uncertainty.
It is truly devastating to the human spirit. He has struggled with part-time jobs at minimum wage with no benefits. I have helped him find the medical care he needs. The whole family chips in to help him in all ways. It is a family affair. Many of his doctors give generous discounts when he “tells” them he is uninsured. This has really helped him get the medical care he needs. Over the years I have collected his records and taught him to work his way through the medical system.
His medical record is his basic communication tool along with reading lips, and writing things down. He is a master at sign language (and so many things), but none of his doctors know sign language. He requires an interpreter, but it is difficult to arrange when you are deaf and no one knows your language or how to use the TDD (telecommunication device for the deaf) phone devices or operator services. You can even do it on line. How do you get a doctor appointment? Often the emergency room becomes the primary care clinic.
If you are not heard, you are ignored or misunderstood. We must open our ears to the deaf and all people with disabilities. To be born deaf is not ever hearing anything. It makes us realize the importance of communication, another vital sign.
J.L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor and patient advocate, is the author of PatientHandbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com
viernes, 27 de marzo de 2009
Emergency Preparedness - Do Your Part
It is always time to be sure you are prepared for any emergency. Safety and health are more important than ever during an emergency situation. Being prepared is a real-time, year round activity.
Though September is official National Preparedness Month, which is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), it is time to prepare now. This program helps us prepare for emergencies. It encourages us to "get a kit, make a plan, be informed, get involved".
While it is important to prepare yourself, it is also important to help prepare your community. The Citizens Corp, "uniting communities, preparing the nation", encourages you to start with personal preparedness as well as volunteering to help in community preparedness.
Citizens Corps programs include the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Fire Corps, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), and USA on Watch (National Neighborhood on Watch).
Learn more about these programs at http://www.citizencorps.gov/ . Get involved. If you are already involved, call on others to do their part.
Preparedness begins at home. Be ready, stay ready. Be informed and check out National Preparedness Month at http://www.ready.gov/ .
Though September is official National Preparedness Month, which is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), it is time to prepare now. This program helps us prepare for emergencies. It encourages us to "get a kit, make a plan, be informed, get involved".
While it is important to prepare yourself, it is also important to help prepare your community. The Citizens Corp, "uniting communities, preparing the nation", encourages you to start with personal preparedness as well as volunteering to help in community preparedness.
Citizens Corps programs include the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Fire Corps, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), and USA on Watch (National Neighborhood on Watch).
Learn more about these programs at http://www.citizencorps.gov/ . Get involved. If you are already involved, call on others to do their part.
Preparedness begins at home. Be ready, stay ready. Be informed and check out National Preparedness Month at http://www.ready.gov/ .
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