While moving through the health care system, you have likely experienced some positive experiences and some not-so-positive ones.  So, I’m curious.  What is your biggest health care pet peeve?

Choose all that apply from the options below and leave a comment on this post with your answer(s).  If you don’t see yours listed here, write it in the comments.

1.  Long wait times in doctors’ offices

2.  Time with doctor is rushed or too short

3.  Health care practitioners don’t show enough empathy

4.  Dealing with the insurance company

5.  Having to get referrals

6.  Prescription costs

7.  Finding the right specialists (knowing where to go)

I will post this question on Facebook and share the compiled results.  I’d love to know your pet peeves.  

In the meantime, take the guesswork out of health care with my blog.  You’ll get articles and tips that breakdown the mystery of health care.  By signing up, you will also receive my free ebook Easy Health Care: What You Need First.

MyHealthSpin helps you Spin Your Healthcare Your Way!

The post What Is Your Biggest Health Care Pet Peeve? appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

We hope we have helped you SPIN YOUR HEALTHCARE YOUR WAY!

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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? HealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: Choosing an Assisted Living Facility” ebook guide gives you all of the practical advice you need to make the right choice.

Available for download, NOW!

The post Want To Make Your Loved One’s Room Feel Like Home? appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Our helpful health care links

Government To Grade Nursing Homes On Tougher Scale

Starting immediately, the federal government is making it harder for nursing homes to get top grades on a public report card, in part by increasing scrutiny of their use of anti-psychotic drugs and raising the bar on an array of quality measures.

‘Superbug’ Outbreak at California Hospital, More Than 160 Exposed

A potentially deadly “superbug” resistant to antibiotics has infected seven patients, including two who died, and more than 160 others were exposed at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center through contaminated medical instruments.

We hope we have helped you SPIN YOUR HEALTHCARE YOUR WAY!

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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? HealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: Choosing an Assisted Living Facility” ebook guide gives you all of the practical advice you need to make the right choice.

Available for download, NOW!

The post Helpful Health Care Links: February 20, 2015 appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

In our upcoming videos, we’ll show you how to compare health insurance plans baseto make sure you pick what’s right for you! 

Stay tuned for my easy information about how to choose insurance in our upcoming book, Choose Your Health Insurance.

I hope this post helps you Spin Your Healthcare Your Way!

The post Who Is Going To Be In Charge Of Your Care? VIDEO appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

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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.

Available for download NOW!

The post What Should You Consider When Choosing An Assisted Living? appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Happy Holidays from MyHealthSpin!

Our helpful health care links focus on a variety of topics this holiday week — an Atlanta CDC worker being monitored for possible Ebola exposure and important information about smartphone apps which are meant to monitor hypertension. We also include a local story from Crain’s Detroit Business reporting on a lawsuit filed on behalf of 159 Detroit residents whose medical records were breached. 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!

When Home And Health Are Just Out Of Reach

A Medicaid experiment helps some elderly and disabled people move out of institutions into their own homes.

CDC Worker In Atlanta To Be Monitored For Possible Ebola Exposure

A laboratory technician working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta may have been exposed to the Ebola virus.

Henry Ford Health Wins Appeal Over Online Posting Of Patient Medical Records

The Michigan appeals court has reversed a decision and dismissed a lawsuit filed on behalf of 159 people in the Detroit area whose medical records were mistakenly made available online.

3 Ways To Get Cheaper Health Care In 2015

Companies are offering workers more health and wellness options, which means more opportunities for you to shop around for the most affordable care.

Beware The Claims Of Hypertension Apps, Study Says

Many smartphone apps that contend they address hypertension make medical claims without clinical validation or FDA approval.

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All of this information and more will be explained in MyHealthSpin’s soon-to-be-released book, Easy Healthcare:  Choose Your Health Insurance.  For more information,  go to myhealthspin.com.

The post Helpful Health Care Links: December 26, 2014 appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

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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.

Available for download NOW!

The post Choosing An Assisted Living Facility: Part 1 VIDEO appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Since today is Veteran’s Day, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the amazingly hard working doctors and nurses who have served tirelessly in war, in peace, and at Veteran’s hospitals throughout the world.

There has been much in the news lately about the failings of the nation’s military Veteran hospitals.

However, we wanted to make sure that we also remember that every day there are thousands of hard working military doctors and nurses all over the country tirelessly helping our veterans with their many health needs.

Each of the doctors and nurses serving our military are asked to use their extraordinary skills to serve our veterans who have not only the normal healthcare needs of any patient, but also have needs that require very special skills.

Here is just one example, from Virginia’s Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, of  how the medical community serving our veterans is making a difference.

So, we are using today’s blog post to say a big “THANK YOU!” to these amazing men and women.

Enjoy your Veteran’s Day and say “thank you” to the doctors and nurses who are working over this holiday to take care of their patients.

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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.

Available for download NOW!

The post Thank You To Our Military Healthcare Providers! appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Here are some things to think about when selecting a room:

1. Involve Your Loved One:  This is going to be their new home for some time.  It will be very different than living in their home with a lot of space and all of their furniture and lifelong treasures.  The move is unlikely to be successful unless your loved one understands the choices and is involved in the decision making.
2. Type of Room:  You should ask the facility what kinds of rooms are available. There are generally single rooms, rooms that have a roommate, single rooms that share a bathroom and/or a kitchen, or larger rooms that have one resident but the room has both a bedroom, kitchen, and a living room area.  Each facility varies on the type of rooms in the facility and what is available at the time of the move in.
3. Cost:  One of the main questions to ask is the cost of each type of room.  Although your loved one may want a large single room, it may be cost prohibitive. Often, your loved one may start off thinking they want a single room but actually end up loving having a roommate as they have some company. Everyone is different.
4. Roommates:  If you are considering a roommate, make sure you inquire about the medical condition of the person to determine if their medical or other needs may disturb your loved one.  For example, if the roommate requires help going to the bathroom and has to go frequently, this may disturb your loved one’s rest.  The roommate may talk a lot and your loved one may need some quiet.  You need to make sure there is a good “fit.”
5. Furniture:  Once you have chosen a room, you should talk to your loved one about what furniture they would like to bring from their home. The facility may offer to provide furniture for the room.  If possible, you should try to bring at least a few “important” pieces of furniture from your loved one’s home. The Assisted Living facility will be new and unfamiliar. Often your loved one is apprehensive about moving.  Having the room look and feel as much like home as possible will really help with  the transition.
6. Location:  You should look where the room is located within the facility.  If your loved one needs a lot of assistance or has many medical needs, you might want to choose a room that is close to the staff desk or the nurses station.  If, however, your loved one does not like a lot of noise, you may want to pick a room that is located away from the main hallways or staff stations.

All of these considerations are important to make a smooth transition to the Assisted Living Facility.  The more you can visit the facility during different hours of the day and on weekdays and weekends — you will get a better idea about which room is best.  Spending time with other residents at different times of day will give you more information when you need to make a selection.

You should also confirm that if your loved one does not like the room they have selected for whatever reason that they can move, at no charge. Make sure you get this in writing from the facility. Preparation and planning will ensure that your move to an Assisted Living facility is successful.

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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.

Available for download NOW!

The post Choosing a Room in an Assisted Living Facility: What You Should Know appeared first on MyHealthSpin.