The Future of Health Care: Electronic Health Records

Innovative health care can save lives and every physician and health care provider has a stake in its success. Through the use of electronic health records (EHRs), the coordination of health care for an individual patient between various practitioner offices is more efficient and accurate, resulting in better overall patient care. With an EHR, a patient's information is always current and coordinated, helping to eliminate medical errors and duplicative paperwork. Dr. Farzad Mostashari (ONC), Dr. Donald Berwick and other health care professionals discuss how EHR technology may help reduce the cost of health care and improve health outcomes -- leading to a healthier future for all Americans. (via)

Until Next time
Mike
Healthcare Software

Getting a early start on flu shots

After several years of shortages and rationing, pharmaceutics companies are getting a headstart on flu shot vaccines. This comes after years where the people most at risk for influenza. From the WSJ:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on a media teleconference today that it expects about 166 million flu shots to be produced this year, an increase from last season’s 157 million. Nearly half of children, 6 months to 17 years old, got flu shots last season, compared to 41% of all adults, the CDC estimated.

The FDA has approved the 2011-2012 vaccine, which will cover the same strains as last year's shot. Anyone at risk should still the shot. Its effects only last about 13 months.

The increased production of the shot was promoted by new studies showing static growth in vaccination rates among health care workers and pregnant women. By producing more doses of the vaccines, healthcare organizations can ensure that as many members of their staff get the shot. This reduces absenteeism during the height of the flue season.

Doctors will also push for a higher rate of vaccination among pregnant women. the CDC has found that 71% of pregnant women get the vaccine when it is given as an option, verse 14% when it is not. By making sure there is enough to go around, doctors will be able to offer the shot to anyone who may be at risk.




Until Next Time,
mike
Healthcare Software

New PT Video Blog

Here is the first episode of a great new video blog by a group of physical therapy students at U of T.

Until Next Time
Mike
Physical Therapy Recurring

Senior Transportation Needs

A major barrior to senior care has been transportation. As we age, it becomes more dangerous for seniors to drive themselves. This can cause depression and stress as seniors lose their independence. It also creates strain on grown children who have to reshape their lives around helping their parents maintain their standard of living.

In the past, the lose of transport skills meant it was time to go into a nursing home or supportive living, even if there was no other issues.

When it comes to the standard of living and mental well being of a senior, this lose of independence can be devastating.

Increasingly there are options. National Center on Senior Transportation was created in 2007 with the express purpose of increasing senior assistance with transportation, enhancing their ability to live more independently within their communities.

Through training and grants, there are an ever increasing numbers of non-profits and small businesses dedicated to help seniors get out of the house for doctors appointments and daily shopping with out placing an additional burdon on friends and family.

Until next time,
Mike
Chicago In-Home Care

Keeping Seniors Connected: Senior Transportation Project from Jewish Community Federation on Vimeo.

Animal-Assisted Therapy Does the Trick

Therapists, both physical and occupational, have a well established bag of tricks for help seniors thrive during extended in home at care. More and more animal therapy is becoming standard practice.

Therapists report that seniors having trouble come to life with a pup walks through the door. Therapy dogs are not service dogs. They have not been trained to assist people with disabilities. Instead, they are well trained dogs comfortable in a range of social settings. In some communities, therapy dogs are approved by ad hoc volunteer groups tasked with screening dogs for behavior and personality.

Research has shown proximity to pets can reduce stress levels. Other studies have show that having dogs in the home can reduce panic attacks, and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, or manic depression.

Competitive Bidding savings Money, but loses Experience

The ongonig debate about the United State's budget has continued deep into the summer. Much of the debate has centered around medicare and the government's role in health care funding. One compromise plan proposed has is called "Competitive Bidding." Simply put: 

All plans in a market (e.g., a county), fee-for-service included, offer bids for the cost above the standard Part B premium of provision of a standardized set of benefits (e.g., the current Medicare benefit) for an average beneficiary. The lowest bid in a market — whether from a private plan or from fee-for-service Medicare — establishes the subsidy (premium support) offered for enrollment into any plan in the market. This amount would then be risk-adjusted according to beneficiary health status. Beneficiaries opting for plans with higher costs (bids) or additional benefits would pay the additional cost. Means testing or a low-income subsidy program, as exists in today’s Medicare, could be incorporated to protect poorer beneficiaries from high residual out-of-pocket costs.

This sort of plan could satisfying both sides of the ideological debate. 


There is, however, a problem. By basing all pricing on a bid process, small, locally focused  home healthcare providers might be pushed out of the market by large national companies. According to one study, lowball bids from large providers could introduce inefficiencies and accounted expenses to the current system.


It also pushes more expenses providers out of the market. By undercutting smaller companies, large providers will be able to place inexperienced nurses and medical techs into homes without a free of medical backlash.  


Chicago Home Care

“It Begins with Education”: Five Questions for a Fellow with Jillian Heck and Melissa Warriner

 A Great Q&A with some medical students from the Philly area talking about the after school HIV/AIDS prevention program they founded.

A 2008 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer stated that HIV/AIDS infection rates are “more than five times the national average” in the Greater Philadelphia area. Furthermore, another study states that 34% of adolescents have had sex by the time they are in 9th grade. These two facts astounded us and served as the main motivation for our project, which targets middle-school aged adolescents and provides them with HIV/AIDS education through the use of physical activity.