Posted on Monday, November 3, 2014

Do You Have Rights to Your Senior’s Medical Records?

The short answer is “no” in most cases. To get that vital information you have to work up front with your loved one before you ever go to the doctor’s office.

Few things in healthcare are as frustrating as having an aging parent with health issues and not be able to see their medical records. Whether you are a family member caring for a senior or or senior yourself who wants to make sure your potential caregiver can have the information they need, you should know how to get or give permission to view medical records.

First, your loved one always has the right to designate who they want to have access to their medical records. When a senior goes to a doctor or hospital, they should specifically ask to fill out a a form saying who should get access to their health records. The senior’s spouse or children will not necessarily have access without the authorization.

Second, a doctor is allowed to give information to a spouse or family member if he or she is present during a doctor’s visit or a hospital stay. If the senior has a family member come with them to the doctor, the doctor can assume that the senior wants the family member to have access to the senior’s medical information unless the senior states otherwise.

Third, a senior should have a “Living Will.” Also called a “Healthcare Declaration,” this legal document, which varies in different states, will allow the person named in it to make decisions about the patient’s healthcare if they are unable to make decisions themselves. A Living Will is fairly simple to fill out. Often, seniors want to list all of their children, so they can make a joint decision. This is unwise. When a loved one is seriously ill, it will be very hard to get a single decision from every family member, each of whom may be scattered all over the country or world. It’s better to name one person and ask them to talk to the whole family before making the final decision according to the wishes of the patient.

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Posted on Monday, October 27, 2014

Going to an Urgent Care Facility – Think Again!

Many people are now using urgent care facilities instead of a primary care doctor. If you’re one of them, think again.

Urgent care facilities seem to be popping up on every corner, and they can look like the perfect solution to a healthcare problem. Urgent care centers are open after hours and on weekends. For some, it could be cheaper and faster to go to an urgent care rather than an emergency room. And people with high insurance deductibles believe it’s less expensive to go to an urgent care. So, why not take advantage of these conveniences?

First, none of the healthcare providers at the urgent care facility will know you or your loved one. The urgent care facility will not have your health history nor your family history. The purpose of urgent care is to treat a problem quickly and get you “in and out.” It is similar to a drive-thru fast food restaurant. When you want great, healthy food prepared by a talented chef, do you go to the drive-thru for something that was made in 3 minutes? No. Isn’t your healthcare more important than picking up a quick burger to eat on the run?

When handling your healthcare, you need a physician who knows you and your family’s health history. A new doctor can always ask you questions and write down the answers; however, if they are unlikely to ever see you again, are they going to take the time necessary to really assess what’s going on? Your healthcare needs are often complex. For example, you need to be careful about drug interactions so just getting a quick prescription isn’t always a good answer. An urgent care center is set up for the quick fix, not complex problems.

Moonlighting staff. Additionally, many urgent care facilities are staffed by doctors who are moonlighting from their day jobs. They might be very qualified; however, working at the urgent care is rarely their primary job. Many times after a visit to urgent care, you don’t get better or you have questions the next day. It’s very unlikely that you will be able to call the urgent care facility and talk to the doctor who saw you since he or she has returned to their day job.

Most people want great healthcare. When you are sick is not the time to start with a doctor who does not know you. Take charge of your healthcare:

Find a primary care doctor.
Know when your doctor’s office is open. Don’t wait until 7 p.m. on Friday evening to decide you need to see a doctor.
Know when your doctor’s office has Saturday or late night hours.
Ask your doctor if he or she is affiliated with an “after hours” clinic that will have access to your or your loved ones’ medical records, if you must go to the doctor when your primary doctor’s office is closed.
Plan ahead when possible. If you are feeling badly on Monday, call the doctor’s office before the office is closed for the weekend.

And most of all, establish a good relationship with a primary care doctor. It’s the best place to start to take charge of your healthcare.

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Posted on Monday, October 13, 2014

Choosing a Room in an Assisted Living Facility: What You Should Know

There is so much to think about when you are considering a move for you or your loved one to an Assisted Living Facility. One of the most important questions once you pick a facility is — “What type of room should you choose?”

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

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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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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