Along with so much else – – do the rich get better medical care?
The affluent hire specialists for almost everything, they do not have the time to research investments, tax issues NOR health care. So why not hire someone to advise them on good medical care?
This is so pervasive that an article about just this appeared in NYT (J. Rago, September 22-23, 2012). Recognition that our health care system is far from perfect and that not all doctors and hospitals have excellent ‘report cards’ prompted a niche business. These folks are paid to research and seek out the top health care providers for you. They have created a referral database of ‘2,200 specialists in ‘160 fields’ .
So in the debate of cost containment vs. quality can one have both in health care matters? Listen to my podcast in iTunes on how to choose a physician- Medical Care Control & Doctors’ Quality.
A basic rule in medical care is ‘Do No Further Harm’!
It is drummed into us in medical training even the pre-hospital EMS get this repeated and repeated during their training. So why do medical errors kill enough people yearly to be the 6th leading cause of death in the USA- 98,000 die annually from medical errors.
Well you probably already figured out that many (20-30%) of drugs prescribed, tests ordered and procedures carried out are not necessary. Yes we think medical care based on ‘out of an overabundance of caution’, or ‘better to be safe than sorry’ is good care-it is not! It costs in more ways than one.
The hospitals are safe-right? The percent of hospitalized patients ‘hurt’ by medical errors is 25% according to New England Journal Medicine (NEJM).
It is the health of YOUR body so please use your brain – research a health care provider (do NOT use ease of parking as a determiner). Ask questions and listen to DocHandal’s related podcasts on theDocHandal Speaks!Listen Up Channel in iTunes – ‘Medical Care Control’, ‘Doctor Searches’, ‘Tips On Dealing with Doctors’.
Rightfully called a Life-Line an intravenous line (IV) opens the ability to infuse directly into the blood life saving blood, fluid, medication and even electric wires to control your heart! You may have had an IV or seen a person with one in place, but do you know much about it? It’s one of the first things done in a medical situation. DocHandal lets you know when, how and most important what to watch for once an IV is ‘in’ – so Listen Up!
Trauma to our skin is all too common, cuts or wounds as we Docs call them need attention. This may simply mean cleaning, protecting but at other times repair with a needle and thread is required. Those that are deep or at angles need sutures-stitches! Sutures are the handiwork that result from ‘stitching’ our skin together. Skip the needed stitches and run the risk of infection &/or horrific scaring. Let the expert DocHandal give you the inside ‘skinny’ on this minor surgical procedure.
Benefits of routine screening for several conditions are being reevaluated, less is becoming the new “more’. Just like the PSA blood test Doc addresses in April 1st podcast, the Pap smear is no longer going to be recommended yearly. New guidelines state most women should wait until 21 and get tested every 3 years if it is normal. However women ages 30-65 who test negative for both HPV test & Pap smear can wait 5 years. Listen Up to Doc for more about the changes and how they will effect you, your mother, daughter.
Need to Know the Basics. Over a million Americans suffer from Parkinson’s Disease. The mean age is 55, it will start with a non intentional tremor in one of the extremities. They will develop a high degree of disability in 5-10 years even with expert care. The initial tremor indicates that 30% of dopamine stimulating neurons. Learn from DocHandal updates and true facts about this neurological disease.
Sure quicker and faster to take a drug prescribed for someone one else. A friend already has it and it is usually free, convenient and so easy! No searching for a doctor, waiting, paying a fee then a trip to the pharmacy more money out. So when you hear “Take this!” you do.
All to many of us are guilty of taking medications prescribed for someone else. After all it is a friend trying to help out when you are ill. Offering and giving you what they were prescribed for the same or similar problem does not consider your personal medical background (other conditions, allergies, interactions with other medication you may be taking).
Is “Take this’ an economic move or a deadly action? Listen Up!
Prostate Screening through PSA blood tests every 4 years seem to cut down on death from this cancer. Recent research shows overall there is no difference in # of deaths if it is not tested every annually. An important reality – complications from prostate cancer treatment are greater than deaths from it. The latest study with resulting new guidelines straight from DocHandal – easily stated worth the listen.
Yes! Not just for women! Just approved for men this vaccine covers prevention of the HPV sexually transmitted virus that can cause cancer & genital warts. It covers 4 types of the HPV virus that in men can cause mouth and throat cancer. Learn specific details along with the exact latest vaccine recommendations by men’s ages by Listening Up to DocHandal’s podcast.
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