2022

Health literacy can be defined as people’s competencies to access, understand, appraise and apply information to make health decisions in everyday life. It helps individuals make healthy choices in times where the boundaries between work and life aren’t so clear anymore. When people fall ill, they seek the best treatments possible. But, how could they know about those treatments if they aren’t provided with easy-to-understand information in the first place? Pharmaceutical firms develop countless drugs and devices to assist people in managing their condition, but only on a few occasions are advertisements presented in a way that educates the patient. By spending more time in ensuring that all their communications are clear to people of any education level, pharmaceutical firms can improve health literacy. Challenges Faced With Health Literacy According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Health Communication Activities), over a third of US adults-77 million people-would have difficulty with common health tasks, such as following directions on a prescription drug label or adhering to a childhood immunization schedule using a standard chart.1 A report presented by the Institute of Medicine suggests that 90 million people, nearly half of the adult US population, lacks health literacy skills needed to understand and act on health information and health system demands.2 Healthcare advertising has a long way to go before patients can find it easier to relate and understand the information they’re receiving from these businesses. The current methods being used to market to people with health conditions is making patient education fall by the wayside. People find actors and models less relatable when compared with real patients. If patients lack the health literacy that is needed to understand the ads, the information provided could mislead them or be misunderstood. “ONLY 12 % of Adults have proficient health literacy“ The US Department of Health and Human Services reported that only 12 percent of adults have proficient health literacy.3 Poor patient education could lead to poor management of chronic ailments and even cause setbacks. People may skip their much-required appointments or tests, lack the ability to manage conditions, get hospitalized often and face increased health care costs. If patients aren’t aware of the questions they should ask about their medicines, in essence of how the medicine would act or react, they could experience negative outcomes. Health Literacy As A Strategic Marketing Asset And Corporate Social Responsibility Health literacy can cease to be a challenge if both pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers take measures to educate their patients. The rapid development of different communication channels has made people seem omnipresent. This gives healthcare professional access to a variety of communication channels (social media, blogs, community forums, patient education drives, etc.) to get health information across. While there are plenty of ways for pharmaceutical businesses to improve marketing through health literacy, the first step would be to begin with writing information that will be easily understood. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci Using technical jargons (in this case-industrial medical terminology) can interfere with health literacy because patients can’t make sense of what the words mean. Pharmaceutical companies should stick to the local language and writing style in order to ensure that people know what they’re doing by using a specific medical device or taking a medication. Even the way information is laid out can improve comprehension. The US Department of Health and Human Services suggest that the text should be in at least 12-point font with little or no formatting, such as script or italics.4 Images and bullet points can be used to space out information and add meaning to your communication. Facts should be presented in short sentences and phrases so that patients do not get overwhelmed when they’re reading a health literature. Multi-channel marketing has its own set of challenges. Pamphlets and brochures offer small bursts of information at one place. However, when it comes to websites, most people struggle to search for information. If pharmaceutical companies are seeking to expand their web presence and invest in various Web Marketing activities, it will be wise to design sites that are user-friendly. These websites need to have clear categories, keep a simple layout and use a variety of media. Bearing in mind the explosion of information that is now available to patients, direct-to-consumer advertising is the best bet for pharmaceutical firms. By presenting information in an easy-to-understand manner, pharmaceutical companies can increase patient education with their publication. Source by Dr. Jonathan Elias D’Souza, PhD A.M.

As one of the most prominent leafy vegetables in Europe, kale is a wondrous raw food with a plethora of redeeming qualities. Featured in many famous dishes from Africa, Ireland, Asia, the Netherlands, Brazil, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Montenegro and Portugal kale is truly a global provider. Despite its amazing health benefits and international allure kale still remains largely under the radar in America. It is so popular in Germany, social clubs and celebrations have evolved around the vegetable but in America you rarely see kale used at restaurants or even in home cooked meals. Maybe it is the temptations of fast food, meat, frying and large portions that have kept kale largely undiscovered in the United States but as health and diet agendas hopefully so too will the uses of kale. As a super raw food that fairly inexpensive and easy to source there is no reason why we all should not be cooking with this leafy friend more often. Mostly promoted and supported by vegan, vegetarian and raw food enthusiasts everyone would be better served by including more kale in their daily eating routines. Very easy to cook with and boasting a voracious variety of uses it should not be difficult for anyone to increase their kale intake. After we learn a little more about kale and review its many health benefits I am sure there will be a clamor at the supermarkets to buy some. Kale is in the cabbage family and comes in green or purple headless leaves. Other color variations may consist of whites, yellows, blues and reds. The vegetable is strong in flavor and can become even more pronounced after being frozen or exposed to frost. The plant also grows very well in wintry and harsh climates making it very versatile as far as cultivation is concerned. Some close brothers to kale are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, rapini, collard greens and brussels sprouts. Kale is viewed as a superfood with many healing qualities. In addition to its nutritional values kale is also often used for garnish and decoration. Most ornamental cabbage you see in gardens is from the kale family. Kale cultivars and looseleaf type classifications include curly leaved (Scots Kale Lutes), plain leaved, rape Kale lutes, leaf and spear (a cross between curly leaved and plain leaved Kale Lutes) and cavolo nero (also known as Tuscan Kale Lutes and dinosaur Kale Lutes). Leaf form and texture are the identifying marks of different Kales and they can range from curled and wrinkled leaves (Scots) to flat with finely divided edges (Siberian or Russian). One cool characteristic of growing kale is that you can harvest the outer leaves as you need them without harming the plant or the future growth of more inner leaves. Kale is very simple to grow and is a great addition to any vegetable patch. It is of interesting to note that the tender and young kale is best for salads while the mature leaves are best for cooking. Speaking of food preparation lets take a look at some of the reasons why we should include this raw food in our meals and dishes. Boiling Kale is not the recommended but steaming, micro-waving, stir frying and eating it raw are all highly encouraged. Kale is a cherished raw food because it is rich in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, glucosinolates, sulforaphane, vitamin E, vitamin A, iron, manganese, calcium, potassium and manganese. It is these facets of kale that are known to prevent and fight against such medical terrors as cancer, cataracts, emphysema and rheumatoid arthritis. A traditional serving size of kale (1 cup) only contains 40 – 60 calories making it a great weight loss aid. Containing a plethora of enriching antioxidant properties, compounds, minerals and nutrients the vegetable is also successful in preventing colds, improving skin tone and augmenting energy levels. Even though it helps the liver, the colon and other vital organs one special circumstance it does not aid in is those with thyroid issues. Containing goitrogen, a naturally-occurring substance in kale and if too much is consumed kale can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland or cause concern for those with thyroid problems. Regardless of this one caveat kale is still a food that must be consumed more often by more people. If you care about your health, the environment and the raw food industry you should have no problem jumping on the kale bandwagon. Kale recipes are rarely complicated and the food is so flexible it can be used in smoothies, soups, salads and even main dishes. Although kale is often cooked and combined with meat we highly encourage its use only in a raw food setting. By eating kale raw we maximize its potential while helping the world as well as ourselves. A raw food diet is a great way to take care of the planet while also nurturing your body and kale is a perfect part of that plan. There are many awesome raw food cookbooks on the market that can show you some great kale recipes. The next time you are thinking of eating something raw and delicious hopefully kale will cross your mind and tummy. Here is even a great kale smoothie and soup recipe to get you started on your quest for kale indulgence. You can also check out my raw food cookbooks for more great cooking ideas. A couple of Kale Recipes to get you on your way to great health! KALE SMOOTHIE (blend ingredients well): 2 cups filtered water 4 bananas 3 yellow mangoes 1 cup of raspberries 1 cup of red grapes 6 to 8 kale leafs A few mint leafs KALE SOUP (Blend all the ingredients with warm water to get desired consistency): 1 Bunch of Kale leaves 1/4 Avocado 1/4 Lemon peeled 1 Roma Tomato 2 cloves Garlic 2 cups filtered water (lukewarm) A sprinkle of red pepper flakes Salt, pepper and onion powder to taste Source by Kathy Tennefoss

Think about it: you make time to service your car. You make time to take your pets to the vet. You even make time to clean your house. But how often do you make time to check in on the state of your own mental health? With health care reform laws expanding coverage for mental health and substance abuse services, more and more Americans will be able to seek the help they need to manage stress, deal with trauma, and improve their lives. If you want to be one of those professionals who help people look after their mental and emotional health, consider a career in psychology, counseling, or social work. We’ve broken down five popular mental health careers and their degree requirements to help you get started. Careers When you think of mental health, a psychology career most likely comes to mind. Psychologists use their knowledge of the human mind and emotions to help patients deal with a wide range of issues, from serious psychological disorders to addiction and recovery to couples counseling. How to Start a Psychology Career Requirements for psychologists vary state to state, but as a minimum, you’ll need a Master’s degree in psychology to practice. Some states will require you to have a PhD. Marriage and Family Therapist Careers The dynamics of husband, wives and their children are unique, which is why marriage and family therapists are a specialized group of mental health workers. They spend their time in school learning how to read and diagnose different family dynamics and treat each family member, not just one individual. How to Start a Marriage and Family Therapy Career The majority of marriage and family therapists have a Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. Guidance Counselor Careers Growing up isn’t easy, which is why guidance counselors are hired by elementary, middle and high schools to help children and young adults throughout their educational careers. Guidance counselors make sure students are progressing mentally and emotionally, and will even assist during the college and career decision-making process. How to Start a Guidance Counselor Career Guidance counselors will need a Master’s degree in counseling to get started. Rehabilitation Counselor Careers Those who have physical, emotional or psychological disabilities need a unique kind of counseling. Rehabilitation counselors fill this need, using their skills to improve their quality of life and helping them live as independently as possible. How to Start a Rehabilitation Career Like the careers listed above, rehabilitation counselors need to have a Master’s degree in counseling or a related field. Social Work Careers Some of society’s toughest problems-child abuse, spousal abuse, homelessness, poverty, truancy-often go hand in hand. It’s the responsibility of social workers to help the men, women and children who are trapped in this complicated web of issues. How to Start a Social Work Career Social Workers need a master’s degree in social work to get started, and they generally also have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. For more information on these careers and correlating degree programs, visit this health services career profiles page. Source by Noel Rozny

Let’s examine something pretty simple. Workout to lose weight and improve teen fitness. Novel idea! Going to the gym and exercising will improve college health and teen health. However, teen health won’t necessarily improve with exercising, and college health and teen fitness won’t get better just because people are working out. Teen health, teen fitness and college health is nearing a breaking point in our society. Of college health doesn’t improve the freshman 15 will turn into the sophomore 30. If teen fitness doesn’t get better then cancer, heart and brain problems will run avid in next generation. That’s right. Teen health today could save kids lives tomorrow. (Perfect example: teen fitness and teen health is so bad that Type II Diabetes was CREATED because of it). And college health is so bad that there is an excuse (the “freshman 15”) to overweight students being the norm. It isn’t in the numbers. Teen health and college health won’t improve just by working out. Teen fitness will improve with students working out correctly, not just working out. Working out to improve college health and teen fitness isn’t an hour and a half workout. The only way to improve teen health is not on the treadmill or elliptical. Teen fitness can be fixed one half hour workout at a time. Don’t just jump on the treadmill for longer to lose weight and improve college health and teen health. It’s a waste. Studies have shown time and time again aerobic training (like a typical “cardio” routine) isn’t good for fat loss. Millions of students concerned with teen fitness and teen health go to the gym to get healthier and happier. However, millions of students go there and waste their time. Teen fitness and teen health will be improved with proper workouts, not longer workouts. The biggest mistake people make at the gym is they rest too much during workouts. Teen fitness and college health won’t get better resting four minutes between sets. Here are a few tricks to shorten your rest and improve college health and teen health. All of these exercises and workout routines can be found at [http://www.GenerationYfitness.com], the only website devoted to teen health, college health and teen fitness. Membership is free! -Instead of resting, pair up a group of exercises ad perform them back to back. Teen health and college health would vastly improve if students did this. -If students knew how to do cardio right, college health and teen health would greatly improve. Don’t jump on a treadmill and run or walk for an hour. It’s a waste of time and won’t help teen fitness. Interval training, where you run for a short period of time then walk for a shorter period of time, is vastly better and will greatly improve teen health and college health. Instead of resting, workout! That will help out teen fitness and college health. Here are a few exercises you can do instead of resting. Remember, if you don’t know how to do these exercises, they are all explained in details and with pictures on [http://www.GenerationYfitness.com]. -Jumping Jacks -Push ups -Jump Rope -Mountain Climbers Or heck, jump on a treadmill for a minute between resting! Teen health, teen fitness and college health is at a breaking point, and it doesn’t have to be. Teen fitness and college health can be improved easily and quickly with a few small changes. Source by Matt Elder

If you’ve recently decided to go shopping online for your next health insurance plan there are a few items of interest that you should really become aware of in order to get the most out of your health insurance coverage. With many of today’s insurance plans looking familiar the only real differences may rest in the coverage, rates or premiums, deductible amounts and prescription fulfillments. It’s important that you know how to distinguish between a good health insurance plan and a bad one. The tips provided in this informative article will help you accomplish that task. Probably the best place to start is with the actual benefits that are offered in the health care plan you are currently thinking about purchasing or are researching online. Although almost every plan provides routine medical coverage it’s always a good idea to check and see what else may be offered or covered. Don’t let any additional fees or hidden costs appear out of nowhere and be leery of fees that may be due based on the doctor or health care professional you choose as your primary health care provider. Don’t hesitate or be afraid to call the health insurance provider or company in order to speak with one of their service agents in order to clarify any points of interest that you may be concerned with or have questions about. Remember it’s your health and your money that is being dealt with. For many folks the idea of a physical exam or health screening leaves an unpleasant taste in their mouth. Unfortunately, many of the more popular health insurance provides require a pre-medical screening as a requirement before signing up for their health insurance plan or service. The health insurance companies do this as a precaution in order to determine if you have any pre-existing chronic medical conditions that may end up costing them a lot of money in associated health care costs in the future. If this stipulation bothers you then you may want to avoid using these health insurance providers and choose a company that doesn’t require a physical before rendering coverage to you. Make sure and double check the fine print in order to determine if there are any restrictions that can be placed against you or any additional fees or costs that you will have to absorb if you require any medical attention from a health care specialist such as a nutritionist or cardiologist. Be especially wary of any health care plan that meets your initial price budget because it may not actually allow you the opportunity to see the doctors that you truly require in order to stay healthy. Unlike indemnity health care plans (which were once immensely popular) today’s more common health coverage plans are based around an HMO or health maintenance organization which basically means the insurance company provides you a list of hospitals and doctors to choose from as opposed to letting you pick your own primary health care provider outside of the health care network. Finally make sure that you completely understand the prescription drug policy portion of your health care insurance policy. Find out if you are able to use name brand prescription drugs or if you are regulated into only using generic drugs. Other minor feature to look for in a good health insurance plan include coverage for any vision or eye related consults and any type of dental coverage. Finding the right health insurance plan for you or your family may seem difficult at first but the task truly can be easy with our simplified tips outline in this short but informative article on health insurance coverage. Source by Sharlene Raven

Traditional Chinese health beliefs adopt a holistic view emphasizing the importance of environmental factors in increasing risk of disease. According to Quah (1985), these factors influence the balance of body’s harmony, yin and yang. These are two opposite but complementary forces and, together with qi (vital energy), they control the universe and explain the relationship between people and their surroundings. Imbalance in these two forces, or in the qi, results in illness. In order to restore the balance, traditional remedial practices may be needed. For example, excess `hot’ energy can be counterbalanced by cooling herbal teas, and vice versa. These beliefs are deeply ingrained among the Chinese, and have been found to be unchanged following migration to Singapore. Lee, et. al. (2004), found that patients with specific chronic diseases, namely arthritis, musculoskeletal diseases and stroke, were more likely to use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This was strongly determined by the ‘chronic disease triad’, perceived satisfaction with care and cultural health beliefs. Hence the use of TCM is not associated with the quality of doctor-patient interaction. Astin (1998) also agreed that it was seen as being more compatible with the patients’ values, spiritual and religious philosophy, or beliefs regarding the nature and meaning of health and illness. In traditional Chinese culture, taking medication is thought to be aversive, hence medications tend to be taken only until symptoms are relieved and then discontinued; if symptoms are not obvious, medications will probably never be taken. Apart from parental cultural beliefs, minor side effects of certain antibiotics such as stomach upset may contribute to the poor adherence of medication. The use of “leftover”, “shared” antibiotics and over-the-counter purchase of antibiotics by parents are common situations in the community. They think that their children suffer from the same illnesses judging by the similar symptoms, so they would give the “leftover” or “shared” antibiotics to their children and only bring them to their doctors if there is no improvement (Chang & Tang, 2006). This may cause their conditions to deteriorate and may necessitate aggressive treatments later which may have unnecessary side effects. However, there are small groups of Chinese who also blamed ill-health or misfortunes on supernatural forces, or on divine retribution, or on the malevolence of a ‘witch’ or ‘sorcerer’ (Helman, 1994). Such groups will usually seek cures from their religions. In Singapore, the Ministry of Health has drawn up the TCM Practitioners’ Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines to prevent any unscrupulous practitioners from preying on their patients and taking advantage of their beliefs, for example, molesting ignorant patients. The degree of acculturation has been evidenced in the following case. An old man was brought into our hospital with a week-long history of malaise, nausea and vomiting, and sudden jaundice. He was diagnosed to have an obstructive mass in the liver. A biopsy revealed hepatocellular carcinoma. The serological test suggested chronic active hepatitis B. When the news broke to his son that his father had cancer, he requested not to disclose that to his father. When we discussed end of life issues such as hospice care and “do-not-resuscitate” (DNR) orders, the son tried to divert the discussion to other issues such as when his father could go home. Cultural Issues that may be involved in this case are: The Chinese tend to protect the elderly from bad news. Believing in karma – the older folk believe that discussing illnesses or death/dying is bad luck. They think that talking about something bad will cause it to come true. There is an increased incidence of liver cancer resulting from Hepatitis B due to delayed treatment in the elderly, as it may take a long time for them to accept the initial diagnosis. Reference: Astin JA. (1998). Why patients use alternative medicine. J Am Med Assoc 1998; 279: 1548-1553. Chan, G. C. & Tang, S. F. (2006) Parental knowledge, attitudes and antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory tract infection in children attending a primary healthcare clinic in Malaysia. Singapore Medical Journal, 47(4):266 Helman, C. G. (1990) Culture, Health and Illness. Wright, London. Quah, S. R. (1985) The Health Belief Model and preventive health behaviour in Singapore. Social Science and Medicine, 21, 351-363. Lee GBW, Charn TC, Chew ZH and Ng TP. (2004). Complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with chronic diseases in primary care is associated with perceived quality of care and cultural beliefs. Family Practice, 21(6): 654-660. Source by Maurice Wong

There are a lot of factors to creating and maintaining a safe workplace so that oftentimes it is easy to get overwhelmed by them. In order to succeed in creating a safe working environment, you should be able to build and put into action an effective health and safety management system. Your health and safety management system should put together all the different elements within the workplace that need attention to make certain you provide a safe working environment not only for the workers but to all the people who enters it. Health and safety becomes a fundamental part of your business’s basic operations through your health and safety management system. With the implementation of an effective health and safety management system, you will have methods for handling reporting, responsibilities, planning and resourcing to establish a safer work environment. The six elements of health and safety management systems are: 1. Safety Plan. This strategic action plan will make sure that there is a governance structure inside your company that makes certain each worker has a clear understanding of his safety obligations and is responsible in carrying out those obligations. 2. Policies, procedures and processes. Included here are all safety paper infrastructures inside your company. This paperwork describes all safety conduct, expectations, record-keeping, incident reporting, and incident notification recording. 3. Training and induction. In accordance with the nature of your workplace, any person who enters your workplace is required to have training on the rules of the company; the rules of the site; and the rules of the area they are going to. The training content will depend upon the level of risk the person will be exposed to. 4. Monitoring. Your duty to monitor your workplace will be based on conditions and need. You should always take into account the level of risk. More frequent and detailed monitoring should be done when the risk is higher. In some instances, monitoring is required to ensure that all risk has been covered by a new risk assessment that has been implemented because of a change in process; and when an investigation happens after an incident. 5. Supervision. Adequate supervision is the only means of ensuring that workers are performing their safety obligations. Higher level of supervision should be implemented when the level of safety control implemented to minimize risk is low. 6. Reporting. Safety reporting in all levels, not only at the management level should be required in your governance structure. Adopting a satisfactory health and safety management system is not enough; active implementation of the system in the workplace is a must. Therefore, you need to ensure that workers conform with procedures and instructions, properly trained, and under an existing supervision. Source by Edwin G Marx

Your health is your most precious commodity. If you new you had a predisposition to certain health problems, wouldn’t you take steps to guard your good health? Numerology can predict certain health problems that you may encounter. People with a particular Life Path tend to have tendencies for certain kinds of health problems. By calculating your Life Path number, you can learn these potential problems and be on guard for them. And as in many things in Life, forewarned is forearmed. Life Path Calculation Your Life Path is your primary number in Numerology. It’s equivalent to your Sun sign in Astrology. You calculate your Life Path by adding together all the digits of your full date of birth, and then repeating the process until you get a single digit. This process is called fadic addition. For example, actor Johnny Deep was born on June 9th, 1963, so his Life Path is a (7) as shown below. 06-09-1963 = (0 + 6 + 0 + 9 + 1 + 9 + 6 + 3) = (34) = (3 + 4) = (7) Life Path (1) – Leaders People with this life path are so driven and ambitious that they tend to ignore their physical health. Stress can be a major problem for them. They need to incorporate physical exercise into their lives as a coping mechanism to deal with high stress levels. Life Path (2) – Cooperators People with this life path tend to be great worriers. They need to guard against anxiety and the physical symptoms that come with it. Meditation is the ideal natural coping mechanism for these people. Medication may be necessary in extreme cases. Life Path (3) – Entertainers People with this life path tend to be generally healthy due to their sunny outlook on life. They need to guard against over indulgence in life’s pleasures. If they party too much, they don’t get enough rest and tire easily. Some self discipline on managing their time is in order. Life Path (4) – Builders People with this life path tend to work too hard and have a tendency to have problems sleeping. They need to learn to pace themselves and put their work aside at a reasonable hour. A caring spouse or friend can provide a needed reminder now and then to quit working and relax more. Life Path (5) – Sellers People with this life path tend to be easily annoyed by distractions or frustrating situations. They must learn to remain calm and avoid becoming angry or over-stressed. Learning anger management techniques, and turning to things that make them laugh are highly recommended. Life Path (6) – Teachers People with this life path tend to be more concerned for others than themselves. They frequently forget the basics of a healthy lifestyle when it comes to their own needs. Reminders from friends and family about the importance of taking care of themselves is useful. Life Path (7) – Loners People with this life path tend to live in tune with their bodies, and have few health problems. They have a strong intuition about what they need in terms of diet and exercise to keep themselves in top condition. Life Path (8) – Warriors People with this life path tend to be very strong and have great stamina; however the rigors of their combative nature can cause them to over-exert themselves in times of stress at work or play. They need to maintain a well balanced diet to keep their stores of energy up. Life Path (9) – Humanitarian People with this life path are very unselfish and tend to neglect their own welfare when those around them need their care. They need to remember to stay well and care for themselves so that they will always be there for others. Source by Keith Abbott

Electronic health records, also called electronic patient records or computerized patient records, are collections of patients’ medical history over a period of time within an institution. These histories have been recorded digitally and include complete information pertinent to a patient’s health: demographics, past medical records, vital signs, medications, immunizations, progress reports, health problems, laboratory and radiology data. An EHR, as electronic health records are more commonly known, can be shared by various health care facilities through a connection of networks and EHR software. This means that a patient’s records in a New York City hospital can immediately be forwarded to a clinic in Los Angeles without anyone having to go to the trouble of mailing paper print-outs. The use of electronic health records is intended to make work in the health care industry easier by making information more accessible and streamlined. Electronic health records also document other care-related activities like quality management, evidence-based decision support and outcomes reporting. The electronic health record aims to strengthen ties between health care workers such as doctors, nurses and clinicians and their respective patients. This is because the quick and easy accessibility of data is seen to help health providers make reliable, more informed decisions regarding their patients, thus allowing them to give improved services. An EHR makes medical situations better through several ways. One is that electronic health records reduce the chances for medical errors because they contain all information necessary, which in turn creates more accurate and clearer reports. For example, EHR software includes features such as Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE), which is a virtual list for doctors to follow upon prescribing drugs to their patients. This lessens the risks on a patient’s health and in the long run, saves a lot of money. Additionally, electronic health records minimize the need for duplicate tests, effectively cutting down on delays that may affect a patient’s treatment and medication. There have been several issues surrounding the idea of electronic health records. Its disadvantages include extravagant starting costs and a worry about decreased productivity on the part of health care workers as most doctors and nurses are reluctant to spend time learning a new system. More pressing matters regarding electronic health records are the concerns regarding privacy and security of patient records, especially in sensitive cases such as psychotherapy sessions, as well as legal liability in the implementation of EHR software systems that may malfunction. However, the use of electronic health records continues to be seen as the trend towards vast improvements in the health care system nationally. It is viewed to reduce overhead costs by a large percent in the long run, provide access to previously hard-to-obtain data that will help in research and in evidence-based medicine, possibly unite all health care institutions under one system in the future for better coordination and record-keeping. Looking at the bigger picture, electronic health records are considered to be the answer to the long-term preservation of medical histories and ultimately, will benefit everyone in the field of health care. Source by Adam Pounders

Some Medicare members are unhappy with their health care coverage. They enrolled in Medicare mistakenly believing that it would cover all of their health and medical expenses. They have not only been disappointed when hearing that many products and services are not covered but have also been left in financial trouble because of it. Recently, Medicare benefits have only declined further. Because of this more and more people, seniors especially, have begun to research health insurance plans to cover the costs of the things they need. They are quickly finding out that what was once limited to only supplementing Medicare, is now becoming a policy of its own as health insurance plans begin to offer more to their members. Many health insurance plans now offer both primary insurance plans (Medicare Advantage plans) as well as continuing to offer supplemental plans; coverage for dental plans is also available. In addition to offering prescription and non-prescription medications at low costs, many health insurance plans are also taking over costs of eye care, including covering up to sixty percent of the cost of prescription glasses and will even bring your much needed medications right to your doorstep! Another benefit offered by available plans is that a simple application form can be found online, with follow-up by a customer service representative. And spouses of members may also enjoy the benefits in many health insurance plans. Companies offer many different options to suit many different needs. Because of this, it’s important that you read and fully understand the package that you research so that you don’t get caught by surprise when a medical expense comes in. With all of the different plans available online, there is sure to be something for everyone and a plan that may seem tailor made to suit your own personal situation. Members of health insurance plans frequently also enjoy other services, such as long term care insurance and life insurance. Some even offer membership in health clubs and preventative programs. It’s no wonder that health insurance plans beyond Medicare are becoming the preferred choice! Source by Sharon Elrod