Author Archives

    Sherri Martin

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    Considerations for Choosing an Assisted Living Facility

    Years ago, my father underwent surgery that caused him to be unable to live independently. The process of finding him an assisted living facility took a lot of work, communication, and coordination. One of the things I learned in this process is that there is no one right answer for everyone. The “right” facility will depend on factors that are specific to your loved one. That’s why I created some videos to help people in this situation consider much more than the obvious questions of location and cost. Here is part 1. I will share part 2 in a future post.

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    How do you make the right decision about moving yourself or a loved one into an Assisted Living Facility without being overwhelmed? How do you even begin talking about it? MyHealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: Choosing an Assisted Living Facility” ebook guide gives you all of the practical advice you need to make the right choice.

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    Available for download NOW!

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    Avoid the Hospital Emergency Room Wait

    The emergency room is often how people enter the hospital. Something is wrong, so they go to the emergency room, where they may be treated and released or may be admitted to the hospital. But, if your problem isn’t life threatening, you may wait for hours in the ER.

    If you need hospital treatment for an ongoing condition, such as congestive heart failure or diabetes, but don’t need emergency care, call your doctor. You can work with your doctor to be admitted to the hospital directly, thereby avoiding the long wait in the ER and potentially saving time and money.

    As obvious as it may sound, the ER is designed for emergencies. Every patient is evaluated and cared for in the order of urgency and severity. If your ongoing problem isn’t life threatening, you could be waiting a long time for attention.

    If you have a doctor who regularly sees you for your healthcare needs, it’s much better to have that doctor determine what you need and when you should be hospitalized because they know your medical history.

    The way to avoid wasting time in the emergency room is to talk to your doctor ahead of time.

    Ask your doctor:

    1. What hospital does your doctor use?
    2. Does that hospital have a direct admit policy?
    3. If your doctor thinks you should be in the hospital, will he or she write an order to have you directly admitted to a room?
    4. What days of the week and times of day does the hospital accept direct admissions?

    Having this discussion with your doctor in advance will save you the time and expense of having to sit in the emergency room for hours waiting to be admitted to the hospital.

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    Confused about health insurance? Get my new book Choose Your Best Health Insurance for detailed assistance on how to decide which insurance plan is right for you and your family.

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    What You Need to Know Before Going to the Hospital

    When you or a loved one need medical care at a hospital, the situation is stressful enough without having to worry about what bills might pop up later. In this short video, I go over the difference between going to the ER and being admitted to the hospital, whether Medicare covers hospital stays, and how health insurance treats ER visits vs. hospital admissions. Watch this video now so you’ll be prepared to ask the right questions if you find yourself a loved one in the hospital.

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    Confused about health insurance? Get my new book Choose Your Best Health Insurance for detailed assistance on how to decide which insurance plan is right for you and your family.