Question: How can I decide what specialist I need for what without having to call my personal doctor for everything.
From: Jennifer B. of Hopkinsville, KY

Answer: The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) lists 95 specialties and subspecialties. Additionally, some specialties overlap as they seem to care for the same types of problems. You need to check on the training of the specialist and on what types of medical or surgical problems they deal with. Chapter 13 of my book, 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare discusses how to choose a specialist and gives a description of the more common medical specialties and subspecialties, their training and the conditions they treat.

Several people have inquired about the availability of my new book 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare on Amazon.com.  The title is currently in stock at Amazon and another shipment was sent to Amazon’s fulfillment center last week, so it should continue to be listed as “in stock” on Amazon.com.

Thanks for all your support.
-Ruthann

“The ultimate goal of this patient-centered and controlled model is to give patients the ability to interact with multiple physicians, healthcare service providers and pharmacies.”

As I discuss in my new book, one of the best ways to get your best possible healthcare is to take control of your personal information and ensure that every provider has a complete picture of your overall health.  Many people have raised concerns over privacy, security and HIPAA issues from Google branching into healthcare.  However this recent development is a major step forward in broad reaching electronic access for patients to their medical records information.

Happy Times in Healthcare in association with 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare, is sponsoring the 6 Days at Disney contest to celebrate the launch of its newly re-designed website. In addition to a grand prize of Walt Disney World vacation for 4, other great daily, weekly, and monthly prizes are being awarded.

Please congratulate the following Daily Prize Winners for the week of 02/25 each of whom will be receiving a free t-shirt compliments of 7stepshealth.com:

 

• Janis Altomare of Dearborn, MI
• Connie Kmiec of Salem, WI
• Sherry Rimbey of Star, ID
• Christine Messer of Arco, ID
• Theresa OConnor of Henderson, NV
• Robin Miles of Mertztown, PA
• Gary Evans of Menifee, CA

Weekly Winner!

Valerie Holst of Schenectady, NY was the Weekly Winner for the week of 02/25and will be receiving a copy my new book, 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare.

Not Registered Yet?

If you haven't registered yet, you can sign up at www.happytimesinhealthcare.com and be eligible for our next drawing plus get a free sample chapter of 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare and a subscription to the e-newsletter, Here's to Your Best Possible Health.

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 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:

Ed on Selecting a Primary Care Practitioner - In an excerpt from her upcoming release of The Stories Behind the Steps, Dr. Russo is joined by Ed who discusses how he mapped out a strategy to research, interview and select a new doctor to serve as his primary care practitioner. For a free sample chapter of 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare or to purchase a copy of the book please visit http://www.7stepshealth.com.

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I wanted to remind everyone that I will be appearing at the Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem, PA on Saturday from 1 to 3 PM.  I will be giving a short presentation on my new book, 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare, followed by a question and answer session and book signing.  If you are in the area please join us in this historic setting.

Thanks,
-Ruthann

About Moravian Book Shop

The Moravian Book Shop, the oldest bookstore in the world, was founded in 1745 when the Moravian Church appointed Samuel Powell of the Church's Crown Inn on the South Side of the Lehigh River to operate a book store. After several locations, the Moravian Book Shop was moved to the church's publications building near the Central Moravian Church in 1871. Today, the Moravian Book Shop's home is this same site on Historic Main Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Moravian Book Shop
428 Main St
Bethlehem, PA 18018-5869
P: 610-866-5481
www.moravianbookshop.com

Question: Why I have to ask what some medical words mean?They should be written so you can understand them.
From: Lori R. of New Hudson, MI

Answer: Sometimes hearing healthcare providers speak is like being in a foreign country and not understanding the language. If you or a family member is a patient, you have a lot at stake and should ask for verbal and written explanations. But don’t wait until you are in the midst of a crisis. Healthcare providers use medical terms for efficiency and clarity while treating a patient. A basic explanation is that there are three parts to medical terms-a root word which is generally a body part, a prefix before the root word, and a suffix after the root word. Sound complicated? Not really. For example, the root word “card” refers to the heart. Add the prefix “peri” (means around) and the suffix “itis” (means inflammation) and you have pericarditis or inflammation around the heart. I have compiled a list of common root words, prefixes, and suffixes along with their definitions in my book. Also, I have listed common medical abbreviations and common medical terms for several body systems.

Happy Times in Healthcare in association with 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare, is sponsoring the 6 Days at Disney contest to celebrate the launch of its newly re-designed website. In addition to a grand prize of Walt Disney World vacation for 4, other great daily, weekly, and monthly prizes are being awarded.

Please congratulate the following Daily Prize Winners for the week of 03/03 each of whom will be receiving a free t-shirt compliments of 7stepshealth.com:

 

• Leesa Johnson of Canyon Country,CA
• Jonathan Barras of Lido Beach,NY
• Cynthia Smith of North Las Vegas,NV
• Jay French of Lisle,IL
• Stacy Dunning of North Royalton,OH
• kristi hertzog of sinking spring,PA
• Mary Radke of Pinole,CA

Weekly Winner!

Margaret Skinner Holst of Rio Rico, AZ was the Weekly Winner for the week of 03/03 and will be receiving a copy my new book, 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare.

Not Registered Yet?

If you haven't registered yet, you can sign up at www.happytimesinhealthcare.com and be eligible for our next drawing plus get a free sample chapter of 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare and a subscription to the e-newsletter, Here's to Your Best Possible Health.

Question: How much money is spent on healthcare related expenses in the US each year?
From: Locke D. of Seattle, WA

Answer: Healthcare in the U.S. comprises about 16% of the gross domestic product (GDP) according to the National Coalition on Health Care. In 2005, healthcare spending reached $2 trillion. Unfortunately, despite these expenditures, about 15% of the U.S. population lacks or has inadequate healthcare insurance. It is no wonder that this is one of the major platforms in the presidential race.

Perhaps the thought of reading the details of your hysterectomy, prostatectomy, or open-heart surgery is not appealing. This is understandable. Here is an opportunity to define how extensively you want to interact with your records.

Previously I discussed the benefits of obtaining and maintaining all of your medical records in one location for continuity of your care. However, obtaining your records and reading them are two very different things. You can obtain your records and never read them, leaving that to the clinicians. Or you can read every page of every record, line by line. The best approach for most patients is probably somewhere in the middle.

Remember this caveat: reviewing a medical record for a novice may be daunting. As you review your record, it is important not to jump to conclusions based on discrete pieces of data. If you do have questions or concerns, you need to ask your physician to provide his or her interpretation of all the information. Start out your review by using my suggested approach and, as you become more familiar with your records, delve into different parts in more detail.

Question: How to check your bill for errors at hospitals?
From: Bonnie B.

Answer: It is always wise to review your hospital bill. Although hospitals may do a “self audit” to check that services ordered were rendered and charged to the appropriate billing codes, errors do happen. If you or a family member feel you or your insurance company are being charged incorrectly, contact the hospital’s Patient Accounts Department. Insurance companies will also scrutinize the bill and may request a copy of the medical record to review for medical necessity and appropriate charges. Hospitals are wary of fraudulent behavior but you are also responsible. In some instances, incorrect information may have been given at registration so you should also make sure that insurance information is correct.

Question: Why insurance companies have the right to deny what the doctor deems necessary treatment?
From: Sylvia G.

Answer: It sounds like you have had encountered a denial or at least questions from your insurance company about a recommended treatment. An insurer may refuse to approve a test or treatment or it may refuse coverage of the test because you did not follow one or more of its rules. The important points are to know your insurance benefits and the rules, respond to requests within the specified timeframe, document information you are given by phone, give correct insurance information to the provider, and check whether the provider is within your health plan. If there is still an issue, your physician may need to write a justification and/or further explanation to the insurance company. An insurance company may approve payment of a generic, less expensive medication unless otherwise specified by the doctor. It may consider a treatment experimental. Know the reason for the denial and follow the insurance company’s appeal procedure.

Question: How to get inexpensive good insurance for elderly parents?
From: Steve of Ames, IA

Answer: You did not provide details about your parents” ages, whether or not they have Medicare and/or a supplement to Medicare. Since you use the term “elderly,” I will assume they are in the Medicare age group. Medicare is health insurance offered by the federal government for people 65 and older and to some younger people who have disabilities. Part A of Medicare is automatically available to people who paid social security taxes and it helps pay for hospital bills, nursing home care, hospice and home care. Medicare Part B is a supplemental insurance option for people who qualify for Medicare and covers outpatient doctor services and other medical services. Its purpose is to provide coverage for health care not covered under Part A. Part B provides coverage for doctors services, lab tests, physical, medical equipment, and some other medical services. There is a monthly premium and a co-pay. A fairly new part of Medicare is referred to as Plan C or Medicare Advantage Plans (like HMOs and PPOs). These private health plans have their own networks but do provide all Part A and Part B coverage and some offer drug coverage. The individual may have to see providers within their network. Out-of-pocket costs in these plans may be lower because of this. An excellent website www.medicare.com lists the options: Medicare Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans, Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Medicare Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS), Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNP), Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans. People are generally eligible if they live in the service area of the plan, they have Medicare Part A and Part B coverage, and they don't have End-Stage Renal Disease. The newest part of Medicare is Part D prescription drug coverage. You must be enrolled in Medicare before you can apply for Part D coverage. It is offered by private companies and there is a monthly premium.

Happy Times in Healthcare in association with 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare, is sponsoring the 6 Days at Disney contest to celebrate the launch of its newly re-designed website. In addition to a grand prize of Walt Disney World vacation for 4, other great daily, weekly, and monthly prizes are being awarded.

Please congratulate the following Daily Prize Winners for the week of 03/10 each of whom will be receiving a free t-shirt compliments of 7stepshealth.com:

 

• James Heller of Madison,NE
• Jill Miller of Lexington,KY
• Betty Gill of Florence,AL
• Laura Lemons of Covington,VA
• Tommy Genova of Floral Park,NY
• Phyllis Maliska of Keene,NH
• Amanda Gamble of Columbus,OH

Weekly Winner!

Marty Crosson of Kansas City, MO was the Weekly Winner for the week of 03/03 and will be receiving a copy my new book, 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare.

Not Registered Yet?

If you haven't registered yet, you can sign up at www.happytimesinhealthcare.com and be eligible for our next drawing plus get a free sample chapter of 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare and a subscription to the e-newsletter, Here's to Your Best Possible Health.

In 1975, William Dufty, wrote the book Sugar Blues. The book was inspired by Dufty’s withdrawal from a significant sugar addiction in the 1960’s. Interestingly, Dr. Otto Warburg’s finding of a causal link between sugar and cancer in 1931 is not even mentioned by Dufty. This probably has less to do with Dufty’s skills as a researcher and more to do with mainstream media’s ability to bury stories that create the wrong kind of controversy.

In Sugar Blues, Dufty describes the history of refined sugar in our diets dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. He provides some good evidence that the known dangers of eating refined sugar date back to 1664, when diabetes was first identified by Thomas Willis, a physician in England. Willis documented the relationship between excess sugar in the urine and the likelihood of developing diabetes. But because the King’s largest business at the time was importing refined sugar, Willis did not share this information publicly. A wise move for a 17th century physician who wanted to avoid being banished. Today, we still find many of our dietary choices being driven by government policy, some of which may be to benefit industry and not the citizen.

You may feel healthcare providers use medical terminology to put a barrier between you and them. Healthcare providers use medical terminology to be more efficient. Saving 30 seconds by using medical shorthand might make a difference between life and death in an emergency.

A good example is the term bacterial gastroenteritis. This term means “inflammation of the stomach and the intestines due to a bacterial infection.” Using two words versus 12 words is significant. String several terms together and you could save a minute or more. In the ER a physician could save a life in this amount of time.

Happy Times in Healthcare in association with 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare, is sponsoring the 6 Days at Disney contest to celebrate the launch of its newly re-designed website. In addition to a grand prize of Walt Disney World vacation for 4, other great daily, weekly, and monthly prizes are being awarded.

Please congratulate the following Daily Prize Winners for the week of 03/17 each of whom will be receiving a free t-shirt compliments of 7stepshealth.com:

 

• Chuck Darrah of Allen Park, MI
• valerie yasuda of Aiea, HI
• estella miller of Townsend, MA
• Amanda McMichael of Jackson, GA
• Margaret Herrin of Signal Mountain, TN
• Laura LaRiviere of Clinton, CT
• Diana Monroe of Boynton Beach, FL

Weekly Winner!

Rosemary Vegter of Orange City, IA was the Weekly Winner for the week of 03/17 and will be receiving a copy my new book, 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare.

Not Registered Yet?

If you haven't registered yet, you can sign up at www.happytimesinhealthcare.com and be eligible for our next drawing plus get a free sample chapter of 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare and a subscription to the e-newsletter, Here's to Your Best Possible Health.

Naturopathy is a school of medical philosophy and practice that focuses on improving health and treating disease chiefly by assisting the body’s intrinsic ability to recuperate from illness and injury. Naturopathy practices the following six principles:

Question: Why is there not mental health parity across the board with physical health nationally and state-wide?
From: April C-W. of Bradenton, FL

Answer: You are bringing up a point that has no doubt been a point of contention for some time. You are correct in that some health plans cover mental health conditions differently than medical and surgical conditions. I doubt I could satisfactorily explain why that is but action to amend this has started and continues. In 1996, the Mental Health Parity law was passed to provide parity but only for annual and lifetime limits between mental health coverage and medical and surgical coverage. There are hopes to expand parity under this law to include deductibles, co-payments, out-of-pocket expenses, coinsurance, covered hospital days, and covered outpatient visits. Legislatures will most likely continue to amend and clarify this law for many years and the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives are also working to eliminate this disparity.

If you are comfortable communicating via e-mail with your physician, ask if this is an option for needs that arise between visits. More and more physicians are open to communicating via e-mail, especially if the patient initiates the communication.

One of the primary benefits of e-mail communication is that you, as the patient, receive a written, legible record of the information directly from your physician. Questions you may want to ask your physician regarding e-mail communication include:

• Do you communicate via e-mail with patients? May I e-mail you?
• Do you have a written policy regarding e-mail communication?
• Are there topics I should not address via e-mail?
• Is there a charge for e-mail communication? Will insurance cover it?

Happy Times in Healthcare in association with 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare, is sponsoring the 6 Days at Disney contest to celebrate the launch of its newly re-designed website. In addition to a grand prize of Walt Disney World vacation for 4, other great daily, weekly, and monthly prizes are being awarded.

Please congratulate the following Daily Prize Winners for the week of 03/24 each of whom will be receiving a free t-shirt compliments of 7stepshealth.com:

 

• Charity Smith of Raleigh, NC
• Lawrence Moldenhauer of Shepherd, MI
• Mike Milbourn of Glenwood, IN
• Tiffany Lingrel of Morristown, TN
• Christy Goodwin of Fort MEade, MD
• Robert Uchuck of Ellicott City, MD
• Eugene Smith of Pomona, NY

Weekly Winner!

Carol Foster of Saint Charles, IL was the Weekly Winner for the week of 03/17 and will be receiving a copy my new book, 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare.

Not Registered Yet?

If you haven't registered yet, you can sign up at www.happytimesinhealthcare.com and be eligible for our next drawing plus get a free sample chapter of 7 Steps to Your Best Possible Healthcare and a subscription to the e-newsletter, Here's to Your Best Possible Health.

Presented by Mainline Chamber of Commerce

Healthcare Prognosis 2008:
EMPOWER YOURSELF: Take Control of your Healthcare

Location: Bryn Mawr Hospital - Pennypacker Auditorium

Date: April 4th, 2008, 7:30-9:00 AM

Featured Speaker:
Ruthann Russo, PhD, JD, MPH, RHIT,
Author of “7 Steps To Your Best Possible Healthcare”

Guest Speaker:
Dr. Donald C. Arthur, MD,
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Main Line Health