Posts Tagged With ‘ Ann M. Hester ’

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many aspects of health care were ramped up. Learning to complete tasks at breakneck speed and under dire circumstances was a challenge during the pandemic. Technological advances were vital. Due to the high rate of infectivity of the virus, the healthcare landscape had to pivot to a new way of getting things done. One of the outcomes was a surge in telemedicine. Even after deaths due to COVID-19 plummeted, the importance of telehealth visits could not be denied. Whether you live in an apartment in Manhattan or in the wilderness in Wyoming, you can access a doctor... Continue Reading

Sometimes it feels like healthcare is moving from being a compassionate profession to a robotic system. Doctors are frustrated. Patients are frustrated. At times, this “new and improved” healthcare system seems like it churns patients in and out of a revolving door. Insurance companies must contain costs, just like every other type of business. Otherwise, they would go bankrupt. There must be a healthy balance between providing excellent care and managing the costs of that care. If several major health insurance companies folded, imagine how many people would abruptly find themselves without... Continue Reading

America has long been facing a healthcare crisis. The loss of a job can mean the difference between having superior healthcare coverage for you and your family and having none. But millions of Americans don’t benefit from employer-sponsored healthcare and struggle to receive even the most basic care. Yet no one can afford to take access to high-quality healthcare for granted. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. According to data published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), America could face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by the year 2033. Sadly, this... Continue Reading

If the ER doctor does not know your medications, he is left in the dark about making important decisions. For example, he might order something other than a drug you really need. Or he might order a medication that interacts negatively with medication still in your system. Therefore, knowing your medications is crucial! When you plan a trip to the hospital (or the doctor), ensure you can quickly give medical providers an updated list of your medications. Either take a bag of your prescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements or a detailed list. Include the name, dosage, frequency,... Continue Reading

Since the days of the family doctor seeing a patient from delivery to retirement are all but gone, a personal medical record is an invaluable tool. Communication with future physicians can be accomplished without the untimely delays of waiting weeks or longer to receive prior records from another physician – if that doctor is still accessible. Even if a doctor you saw years ago is still available, there is a real chance that your old records may have been destroyed and obliterated with zero chance for recovery. Physicians are only required to keep old medical records for a specific period, often... Continue Reading

Suppose you go to the emergency room and need to be admitted. But your private doctor does not see patients in that (or any) hospital. In that case, the ER physician might admit you to a hospital specialist or a hospitalist. Hospitalists are medical providers who admit patients, round on them daily, and then discharge them back home or to a rehab facility if needed. Hospitalists focus on acute and potentially dangerous medical problems, such as severe pneumonia that requires IV antibiotics. Don’t be upset with your doctor. He didn’t abandon you. To make medicine safer and more efficient,... Continue Reading

In the past, doctors took the lead, and patients were expected to blindly follow. This is a new day. The patient-centered care model of health care is gaining popularity for a good reason. With patient-centered care, YOUR specific needs and desired outcomes drive the decision-making process and quality measurements. As a result, you are given your rightful place as a true partner in your healthcare. In addition, your medical providers commit to treating you not just clinically but socially, financially, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. This is critical to overcoming social and cultural barriers... Continue Reading

So, you’ve made an appointment to see your doctor. Now what? Know what to take with you on the visit to optimize your time with the doctor. Regardless of the visit type, take the following: Insurance card Your medications/medication list List of your questions for the day  It would be best if you prioritized the questions in order of their importance to you. If you run out of time, you want to ensure the most pressing issues are addressed and not pushed back to a future appointment. Any pertinent outside documents germane to the visit Your personal health records (if this is your first visit)  If... Continue Reading