Covid Crisis Call to Action

During these times of a pandemic, more precise, valid , reliable information is necessary. Medical and health channels would be optimal. This post was originally written in 2007. It is fifteen years later during a global crisis.  Lttle has changed. The content back then was more plentiful. There is still hope this will become a reliable resource for patients, doctors, and all healthcare professionals.  

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 Outdated show on this channel, and outdated repeat on that channel in between the new show.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 (what about the 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 just 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.

Medical Tips for Storm Preparation

Be organized and keep it simple.  When preparing for any weather emergency, this is important to do especially when it comes to your health.  Anxiety and uncertainty in this flight or stay adrenaline pumping situation can decrease your awareness of what you really should be doing to stay healthy and safe.  Taking care of yourself is primary to sustain weather hazards. 

These tips will help you prepare.

• stay well rested 
• avoid unnecessary distractions
• know the facts, be present and up to date on storms and emergency preparation by reading and listening to lectures 
  
• prepare and check medical provider list to include your primary care doctors including specialists, nearest urgent care community health centers and hospital
• contact electric company to help with medical provisions like home oxygen should power failure occur
• contact community emergency services for listing if medical condition requires extra attention
• prepare food and water stock for two weeks or more
• freeze water for ice enough to fill two or more coolers
• keep prescription medication current with adequate supply for two months
• stay informed with neighbors and community resources
• get batteries for lights, radio, fans, medical devices like glucometer, blood pressure monitor
• charge all sources of power for telephones, limit use and keep turned off if not in use

Prepare yourself first, and plan before the storm arrives. Check and update your plan monthly. Stay healthy and safe.  Best health!

Covid Caution

Wash your hands.

Wear a mask.

Keep safe distance to task.

Give it all you got,

Get a shot.

Be kind to yourself and others.

Thank you.

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Best health!

Listening Is Primary for Effective Quality Healthcare

In this ever changing world of new technology conversations with your doctor face to face are becoming less frequent.  Prior to modern technological advances, most talking to your doctor was done in person during the office or home visit.  Any talk after the visit was by phone, fax, and/or postal mail.  Today this has expanded to e-mail, electronic health records (EHRs), and telemedicine.  Many patients feel that face doctor time is too short and often overshadowed by intense study of the chart and other distractions.  Many doctors overlook the fact that what you have to say will help them diagnose you. 

Studies have shown that missed diagnoses are more likely if the doctor has failed to listen to the patient.  Distractions like patient chart review, interruptions during the office visit, leaving the room to take care of something else, and more decreases the patient’s time.  This unprofessional, unmannerable behavior leaves the patient at a disadvantage.  After getting ready for the appointment and being transported and possibly waiting over one hour to see the doctor, the patient gets an average of less than five minutes of fifteen minute visit to talk.  This is a major faux pas. Patients are able to help lead the doctor to correct diagnoses and treatment over 90% of the time if they listen to the patient.  Less listening invites more unnecessary tests, procedures, and incorrect diagnoses than one can imagine as the doctor tries to rule out what is wrong.

Listening to patients’ history and doing a comprehensive physical exam contributes more to getting the correct diagnosis.  Blood and diagnostic tests add to this; however, if the patient doctor communication is unclear, these could be the wrong tests.  For the patients’ best interest (and less misdiagnosis for patients, malpractice for doctors) communication must be a priority.  The following suggestions for doctors will help:

• Avoid distractions when you are with a patient.
• Give more time for those that need it like hearing impaired, elderly, illiterate.  If hearing impaired, write down conversation to each other.
• Listen intently to patients without interruption when they are talking.  More important information and more information will be obtained that way.
• Take more time to answer questions.  Use patient information handouts as applicable (include books, CDs, websites, etc.on pages)) for more reliable factual information
• Review patients’ medical record before you see them.  The more you see them the better you will get to know them requiring less chart review before each visit.

Doctor and patient communication is important in every patient’s health care.  Miscommunication can lead to adverse outcomes, inaccurate diagnosis, improper treatment, and poor overall health care.  Listening is a primary diagnostic tool that should be used all the times.  Best health!