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Many tools are available to help you gather and store your personal health records, and several are free Internet-based products. Below is one tool I recommend because it is user-friendly, provide helpful content, and seem to be a reliable resource.
iHealthRecord (www.ihealthrecord.com)
Continue reading "Online personal health record" »
I interviewed many patients while I writing my upcoming book. Most of them spoke about one person in particular who helped them through their illness, a medical mentor. This person was not the spouse or domestic partner (who usually focused on providing emotional support), although this individual often was a family member. This mentor helped the patient with decision-making, research, physician discussions, analysis of medical bills, and other challenges the patient was not able to address alone. In each case, these helpers served a more comprehensive role to the patient, a mentoring role.
Continue reading "Your Medical Mentor" »
Research has shown that patients who have a good relationship with their doctors tend to be more satisfied with their care and tend to have better results. Choosing a good primary care physician is a crucial part of your overall healthcare plan and you should be able rely on your primary care physician to coordinate all of your healthcare options. While searching for a PCP here is a list of items you may want to check before you make your 1st appointment.
Continue reading "7 Items to check before choosing a primary care physician" »
I am proud to announce the release of my new podcast Happy Times in Healthcare, the podcast that helps you makes sure your healthcare experiences are the best they can be.
This podcast, which will cover much of the same subject material from this site, is designed to help you become the most competent, well educated, healthcare consumer you can. Below is a listing of upcoming topics:
The new podcast is available at www.HappyTimesInHealthcare.com for subscription or to download episodes. iTunes users can add this podcast directly to your iTunes library by clicking here to subscribe to the Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast
The Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast is here to help healthcare consumers become better educated in order to receive the best possible healthcare available to them. This new podcast series covers a wide variety of topics including paying for healthcare - when you are insured and when you are not insured, selecting a new physician , using healthcare quality rating tools, and understanding your medical record. In this episode:
Selecting Your Primary Care Physician - Why do I need a primary care physician and How do I find the best primary care physician for me?
Whenever you go to a doctor, hospital or clinic information is collected about you and your visit and this health information is stored in your medical record. The list below shows you a number of people and organizations who use your healthcare information and why:
The Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast is here to help healthcare consumers become better educated in order to receive the best possible healthcare available to them. This new podcast series covers a wide variety of topics including paying for healthcare - when you are insured and when you are not insured, selecting a new physician , using healthcare quality rating tools, and understanding your medical record. In this episode:
Your Medical Mentor - I discuss your medical mentor. What is a medical mentor, Do you need one and, How do you find one?
In 1996 the federal government passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which, among other things, provided a mandatory minimum set of privacy protections for patients.
Under HIPAA, health information privacy rights, you have the right to:
The Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast is here to help healthcare consumers become better educated in order to receive the best possible healthcare available to them. This new podcast series covers a wide variety of topics including paying for healthcare - when you are insured and when you are not insured, selecting a new physician , using healthcare quality rating tools, and understanding your medical record. In this episode:
Your Health Plan - I discuss health insurance plans, what do different plan types mean, how do you determine what plan type will work best for you, and what happens if you have a pre-existing condition?
The Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast is here to help healthcare consumers become better educated in order to receive the best possible healthcare available to them. This new podcast series covers a wide variety of topics including paying for healthcare - when you are insured and when you are not insured, selecting a new physician , using healthcare quality rating tools, and understanding your medical record. In this episode:
Making sure your health plan pays the bill - This episode talks about making sure your health plan pays the bill. I will address 3 strategies you can take in each of the following areas to make sure your bills are paid. First, what happens between you and your health plan Second, what happens between you and your provider and third, what happens between your health plan and your provider.
A medical mentor helps a patient with decision-making, research, physician discussions, analysis of medical bills, and other challenges the patient was not able to address alone. Your medical mentor does not need to have special healthcare-related training. The characteristics that every medical mentor I have interviewed had in common were that he or she:
(1) cared deeply for the patient and had a close relationship with him or her
(2) had the ability to influence the patient
(3) had good research and note-taking skills
(4) had good communication skills
(5) was not intimidated by the medical profession or doctors.
Continue reading "Who is a good medical mentor?" »
This recent article, Five must-do's when a loved one is ill, discusses 5 things to do when a family member is in the hospital to ensure they get the best care. Many of things they talk about overlap with the role of the medical mentor I’ve been discussing lately.
Rule No. 1: Don't be afraid to intervene
Rule No. 2: Ask questions until you understand the answer
Rule No. 3: Remember that you know things the doctors don't
Rule No. 4: Temper your loved one's enthusiasm for quick fixes
Rule No. 5: Scope out the nurses
The full article is available from CNN
The Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast is here to help healthcare consumers become better educated in order to receive the best possible healthcare available to them. This new podcast series covers a wide variety of topics including paying for healthcare - when you are insured and when you are not insured, selecting a new physician , using healthcare quality rating tools, and understanding your medical record. In this episode:
What does the healthcare provider charge for their service? - In this edition I discuss how hospital prices are set for insurance companies, government agencies, and uninsured individuals, and suggest how individuals can negotiate a lower medical bill.
Good communication is the key to maximizing the benefits of your health insurance plan. . Here is the first of three strategies that will help:
1. Make sure you understand the rules of your health plan.
If you have single coverage, understand your plan basics in as much detail as you can. However, if you have family coverage, be sure to select someone to be the health plan expert. Today, most plans have significant resources, most available via the Internet, to explain plan operation and coverage. Your medical mentor may also be able to help. Additionally, many practioners are familiar with the health plans they accept. Sometimes they can offer tips to you about navigating the system. If your insurance is through your employer, your Human Resource Administrator should be able to help you understand your plan or if not, be able to direct you to other resources. Calling your insurance company representative can also help you clarify points of your plan. Whatever resources you use, the more informed you are, the more likely you’ll be able to maximize your benefits.
The Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast is here to help healthcare consumers become better educated in order to receive the best possible healthcare available to them. This new podcast series covers a wide variety of topics including paying for healthcare - when you are insured and when you are not insured, selecting a new physician , using healthcare quality rating tools, and understanding your medical record. In this episode:
What if I can’t get insurance? 10 resources to tap - In this episode I talk with you about 10 resources you can tap for free health care, some if you are uninsured and some even if you are insured.
Good communication is the key to maximizing the benefits of your health insurance plan. . Here is the second of three strategies that will help:
2.When you receive a request from your health plan, respond to it.
Health insurance plans make requests because they lack some information about you. Often this information is necessary to pay a claim. Unanswered requests do not just fade away and they can result in a denied payment or delays that end up costing you money. Sometimes, they can even delay your treatment.
Whenever your health insurance plan requests additional information about a doctor visit or a procedure reply ASAP to ensure you are maximizing your healthcare benefits.
3. Develop a relationship (if possible) with someone at the plan.
Telephone contact is usually available, and if you can develop a relationship with one particular person, it will be easier in the future to get your bills paid. If that doesn’t work, then be sure to get any correspondence with the health plan in writing. Before you call, gather important information such as your insurance card and policy booklet or recent bill. When you receive answers to your questions over the phone, ask the individual to e-mail you the response, and ask for his full name and title. You should document the conversation along with the individual’s name and the date of the call, just in case you followed a directive that is changed in the future. Hospitals use this technique with a fairly good degree of success and you should be able to benefit from it as well.
The debate over the State Children’s Health Insurance Program(SCHIP) continues to heat up as congress and the president debate endlessly over an appropriate level of funding and how many additional children should be included in the program.
SCHIP, which provides insurance for children of families who make to much to qualify for Medicaid, but can not afford private insurance, currently covers approximately 6.9 million children in the US. Federal funding for the program will expire by the end of this month if a new proposal isn’t agreed upon which may disrupt delivery of healthcare services in several states.
The Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast is here to help healthcare consumers become better educated in order to receive the best possible healthcare available to them. This new podcast series covers a wide variety of topics including paying for healthcare - when you are insured and when you are not insured, selecting a new physician , using healthcare quality rating tools, and understanding your medical record. In this episode:
What you should know about your medical story - In this episode I discuss your medical record and how it defines your personal medical story. How is your medical record created, what role do you play in creating your medical record and how a doctor uses a medical record to get to know you.
To make sure you get the best value from your existing health insurance plan there are a several things you can do to make sure the bills get paid. Here are 3 strategies you can take to get the best results between your plan and your provider.
Electronic medical records (EMRs) have long been available and many doctors and hospitals continue to move from paper based records to electronic. This video from the Hawaii Independent Physician's Association discusses the benefits of an electronic medical record for small practices and some of the challenges and benefits of an EMR implementation.
Continue reading "EMR Video Overview" »
While researching my upcoming book I conducted a web based survey involving healthcare consumers. One section asked them to describe positive examples they had within the healthcare system. Most of them revolved around interaction with certain individuals, like a nurse or doctor and the positive impact they had during a difficult time. I have compiled many of these stories into a new 19 page eBook entitled Happy Times in Healthcare, which I am making available as a free download when you subscribe to the RuthannRusso.com Weekly Newsletter.
Most stories have a focus on the individual and values of compassion, caring, making the system easier, and willingness of healthcare providers to spend time with their patients. Perhaps reading positive experiences of others will help you to better visualize your own positive experiences in healthcare. If you would like to receive a complimentary copy of this new eBook please sign up for my free email newsletter.
The Happy Times in Healthcare Podcast is here to help healthcare consumers become better educated in order to receive the best possible healthcare available to them. This new podcast series covers a wide variety of topics including paying for healthcare - when you are insured and when you are not insured, selecting a new physician , using healthcare quality rating tools, and understanding your medical record. In this episode:
Tests, Diagnosis and Treatment - In this episode Dr. Russo discusses how your doctor arrives at a diagnosis after you have described your symptoms and he has examined you and how that translates into a treatment plan.
Ruthann Russo, PhD, JD, MPH, RHIT, is a healthcare expert with more than 20 years of experience working in and advising healthcare organizations.
