You’ve broken an arm, or you’re running a fever, or you’ve developed a rash. A visit to your doctor results in an order for a drug, a bandage or cast, surgery, or another treatment plan to help you heal or become healthy again. Or maybe you have a chronic condition or disease, and you’re consistently… Read more »
When it comes to choosing a hospital, most patients default to their doctors or surgeons’ preferences instead of intentionally making their own choice. That can be foolhardy. Hospitals are dangerous places. From infections that can’t be cured or beaten, to surgery mistakes, to drug errors and more, patients are at risk. Some are so problematic… Read more »
So you’ve been given the bad news. Those strange symptoms and test results have resulted in a name – a diagnosis – and it’s something you’re going to have to deal with. The odds are in your favor that your diagnosis is correct. After all, the 500,000 medical errors or misdiagnoses made each year are… Read more »
You need surgery – perhaps a new hip, tumor removal, a face lift, or repair of an ACL. Used to be you would show up at the hospital hours before your surgery, where you would be prepped, anesthetized, the surgery would take place, then you’d begin your recovery. Nurses attended your every need. While the… Read more »
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer, shopping frenzy – and making health insurance choices for 2014. Maybe you’re like my friend Jim who looks at the cost of coverage and chooses the plan that extracts the minimum from his paycheck. Or maybe you consult your crystal ball, and actually crunch some numbers. Regardless of where… Read more »
When Mom developed memory problems more than a decade ago, we knew, as caregivers, we were in for difficult years ahead. Mom transitioned through her Alzheimer’s Disease as many do. Changes in her demeanor, strange behaviors, advancing loss of memory and capabilities. Our experience with her decline was no more or less heartbreaking than anyone… Read more »
If a glass of water or a soft drink comes to mind, then you’re on the wrong track. This ICE refers to In Case of Emergency. More than cooling your liquid refreshment, it may save your life. The ICE initiative was begun in Great Britain by a paramedic who was frustrated by his inability to… Read more »
You fall and gash your hand. You need stitches, which your doctor describes as 12002. Your continuing heartburn problems result in a diagnosis of GERD. But your doctor’s paperwork says you suffer from 530.81. No matter what we patients call our medical challenges, our providers and payers use a different language — medical codes —… Read more »
Last week I attended a conference focused on patient literacy, empowerment, and education. Among the conference attendees were doctors, researchers, educators, and advocates. The overriding theme was that most doctors aren’t doing enough to help us patients understand our medical conditions, nor are they helping us make the right decisions for ourselves. The results are… Read more »
My friend Rachael has a large lump behind her knee. Her orthopedist diagnosed it as a benign tumor, but told her they need to keep an eye on it. She should return in three months, then six months, then nine months and so forth. They will image it each time to see if it… Read more »
Helping your aging parents before a crisisI recently heard Dr Dr Alicia Arbaje from the John Hopkins School of
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Long Distance CaregivingOver the holidays I had the opportunity to visit with some high school
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Denial is common when it comes to aging parentsAs Patient Advocates we know everyone has a story. Most stories we hear
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Start the Conversation with your loved ones and your advocateApril 16th is more than just the day after the deadline for filing your
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