Posted on Friday, December 19, 2014

Helpful Health Care Links: December 19, 2014

Our helpful health care links focus on a variety of topics this week — the 5 most affordable cities for assisted living and the affects of high medical costs on Americans. We also include a story from Spectrum Health touching on many American parents who feel their teen and young adult children are unable to manage their own health care. All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

How the High Cost of Medical Care Is Affecting Americans

The New York Times/CBS News poll found that affording medical care is a hardship for more Americans than a year ago.

The 5 Most Affordable Cities For Assisted Living

Looking for assisted-living facilities for yourself or a loved one? If so, you should probably start by examining a map and your portfolio: Due to a variety of factors, the spot you choose on the former will have a huge impact on the latter.

Report: US Unprepared For Disease Outbreaks Despite Billions Spent

Major gaps exist in the country’s capacity to handle public health crises like Ebola despite massive government spending over the last decade, according to a new report.

Few Parents Think 18-Year-Olds Can Handle Their Health Care

Many American parents don’t think their teen and young adult children are able to manage their own health care.

Managed Care Plans Make Progress In Erasing Racial Disparities

Years of efforts to reduce the racial disparities in health care have so far failed to eliminate them. But progress is being made in the western United States, due largely to efforts by managed care plans to identify patients who were missing out on management of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

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Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2014

Managing Your Health Remotely

Is your smartphone doubling as a health monitoring device? If it isn’t now, it will be in the future.

If you’re a high risk patient, your doctor needs to know as much as possible about your health…if you’re a diabetic, what your insulin levels are throughout the day or if you’re a heart patient, when your blood pressure rise and by how much. But short of following you around with a clipboard, your doctor can’t know in real time when and how your health changes.

That is until now.

Doctors are currently testing personal data trackers for high-risk patients. For example, an electrocardiogram is placed in the patient’s smartphone to monitor the patient’s heart as he or she goes about his or her day. That real-time data is then downloaded by the doctor who can then use it to determine the best treatment for the patient.

Information is a doctor’s best friend and these emerging technologies maximize the amount of information a doctor has to make the right decisions about your care Right now, mobile apps, scales, and activity trackers gather all kinds of data that you can use to live a healthy life. The next generation of devices will allow healthcare providers to to take that to the next level.

As with all new technology, a few hurdles will have to be overcome before these devices become commonplace:

1) Patient Ability: These next-generation devices will have to be “patient friendly.” If it’s overly complicated or requires too much time or work on the part of the patient, the device won’t be successful.

2) No FDA Approval: Many of these new technologies are not approved by the FDA, which monitors medical devices.

3) Privacy: There is always a concern that any device that utilizes the internet may not be secure and meet the necessary privacy standards.

These concerns among others are being addressed as the various technologies are being developed. What’s more, you may soon be able to automatically download your health-monitoring data directly into your medical record at your doctor’s office.

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Posted on Monday, December 15, 2014

To Grandma’s House We Go: Getting Sick on the Road

As we celebrate the holidays, many of us are traveling to be with family and friends. With so many holiday activities, long care rides, and airplane trips, it’s easy to get tired, run down, and sick. Not to mention the fact that all those cousins and friends you don’t see very often can give the gift of germs as easily as they can fruit cake. So how should you handle getting sick on the road?

MyHealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: Before You Get Sick helps you figure out how to prepare prior to getting sick.

First, generally you don’t get sick in an instant. Most people are starting to feel sick prior to their travel date. BE PROACTIVE! Prior to leaving, assess how you are feeling and take action. Do you need to see your doctor? Do you need an antibiotic? Is your child getting an ear infection? Planning ahead is the best plan.

If you get sick on the road without warning, make sure you have your doctor’s contact information so you will be able to ask for help. Should you come home or go to a doctor in the city you are visiting? Make sure you don’t wait until Christmas Eve or New Year’s Day to call. Your doctor’s office won’t be open.

Of course, you should always have an established relationship with a primary care physician long before you travel. If you do not have a primary care physician – a family practitioner or internist – you should find one while you’re healthy. Preparation and planning can save you a lot of time and money. You may end up going to the local ER or urgent care simply because you had no other plan for getting sick while out of town. Getting sick can ruin your holiday so having a plan for handling most illnesses on the road can help.

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Available for download NOW!