How to Save a Medically Underserved Area

A Medically Underserved Area (MUA, also known as a Medically Underserved Population or MUP) is an area where several factors combine to produce a shortage in access to healthcare services and a decreased life expectancy for the local population. When assessing whether a municipality meets the prerequisites for the Medically Underserved Area designation, four main variables are taken into consideration: percentage of the local residents below the poverty line, ratio of general physicians per 1,000 of local residents, infant mortality rate, and the percentage of the local population over the age of 65. These metrics focus on portions of the population that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of decreased access to healthcare services, the theory being that such metrics will allow for a faster response in the event that medical access is compromised.Recent large-scale administrative attempts to address Medically Underserved Areas include the Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA or Obamacare), which was designed to increase access to healthcare services by mandating that employers with more than 50 employees provide health insurance coverage to full-time staff. Proponents of the Affordable Care Act claim that the attempted regulation of corporate health insurance policies will ultimately extend coverage to tens of millions of American citizens, while opponents claim that the ACA will simply prompt companies to shift their workforce in favor of part-time employees so as to avoid the financial penalty tied to refusing the financing of coverage for full-time staff. The Affordable Care Act's lasting effects on Medically Underserved Areas remain unevaluated as of November 2013.


Past solutions to the MUA problem have included specific training and extended deployments in MUAs for new physicians. This practice has decreased in recent years, however, given that in some cases it led medical professionals to commodify the healthcare services they provide. Present and future solutions for correcting the MUA problem include public health education initiatives, which seek to make healthcare delivery information easily accessible for local residents. New funding sources and new training methods for primary care physicians (PCPs) are being developed. Others have called for the establishment of a universal coverage system in the United States, which would extend health insurance coverage to all citizens regardless of income or age. In other modern nations, a universal coverage system is typically funded by revenue collected by various public taxes. While such a system would address the health insurance concerns of Medically Underserved Areas, transportation and distribution issues would still remain unresolved.

Hospital Negligence and Elderly Care

According to the Chicago Tribune, in 2011, the Illinois Department of Public Health received 560 hospital complaints for inadequate services. Allegations ranged from patient abuse, inadequate infection control to more serious violations such as death. Of those 560 complaints, Illinois officials declined to investigate 85 percent due to a lack of funding. Many of these complaints also failed to reach to a federal level, thus many of these allegations were not further investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. So who is ensuring the welfare of hospital patients if hospital staff/administrators and state/federal officials fail to investigate allegations or complaints? When someone is admitted to a hospital, it is expected that they are safe and given quality medical care. It also is expected that nurses, physicians and other staff effectively communicate with one another to ensure adequate care is being provided. Recent events that have occurred with my elderly parents have in part contributed to writing this article. The objective of this article is to increase your awareness of inadequate patient care and encourage you to speak up and not remain silent if something similar were to happen to you.In December 2013, my father required emergency hospitalization to a hospital in the western suburbs of Chicago. The hospital he was transported to was not our first choice. However, paramedics don't transport you to the hospital of your choice. Right from the start, I questioned if the ER nurse was adequately trained on how to communicate professionally to patients. This incident though appeared to be the least concerning of the many incidents that occurred during his hospitalization. The one incident in which I am still trying to understand is how my elderly father who happened to be hospitalized for disorientation, fall in an intensive care unit? Is it not common knowledge that the intensive care unit specializes in treating severe and life threatening illness thus requiring the patient to be closely monitored? Unfortunately the poor care did not stop in ICU. Other serious incidents which occurred were the overuse and misuse of a highly potent benzodiazepine. The reasons for the use of this drug were never documented, nor were we informed that the drug was being administered. Despite our numerous requests to nurses and directors to have the drug removed, the drug continued to be administered. We were informed by one nurse that staff administered the drug because my father was agitated and restless. Restless and agitated? Is this enough to administer a highly potent benzodiazapine to an elderly patient with a history of dementia, pulmonary disease, heart and kidney failure? If restlessness and agitation were sufficient reasons to administer this drug, then the entire world's population would be on it at some point.At one point we were told that he may become dangerous, thus they administered the drug for everyone's safety. The humor with this is that my father is a 5 foot tall, frail, 87 year old man, weighing 120 pounds when wearing his dentures. How dangerous can he be? If there was concern about his safety maybe they should have been proactive and used the bed alarms which commonly are used with dementia patients who wander. Better yet, maybe they should not have administered as many doses of benzodiazepines as they did.


In a healthy individual, the half-life of the drug used (the amount of time it takes for the body to excrete at least half the drug) is 12 to 15 hours. For my father, that number is substantially higher due to end stage renal failure. The number of times in which this drug continued to be administered despite communicating with directors and nurses was quite alarming. Even more alarming is that they used this drug despite it being contraindicated in individuals with a history of pulmonary disease and kidney failure. Could the known side effects of this drug i.e. strong sedation/hypnosis, dizziness, drowsiness have contributed to his fall? Despite speaking to the patient liaison department, 3 different nurses and 3 nursing directors; the drug continued to be administered without consent. It is quite alarming that my fathers records failed to specify our requests nor did anyone bring our concern to the doctor. No matter whose attention our concerns went to, no one seemed to take the matter seriously. I cannot count the number of times I was told someone was looking into the incidents. While we were trying to manage all of the above and get some answers from doctors, we were concurrently dealing with my mother having been transferred to hospice. Well, hospice is what they called it but obtaining the services appeared to require an act of God. We waited three days to transfer my mother to hospice and only were given a room when we went up the chain of command. The time we waited for the room was alarming however, what was disturbing was that we were told by one of the nurse administrators that they did us a favor by placing both of my parents on the same floor. How compassionate of her! What about addressing your staffs failure to communicate with not only the family but also with the physician and other hospital staff?Unfortunately, many people receive below average standards of care while hospitalized. Millions of people worldwide are harmed by poor hospital care each year. Despite one's deep involvement with a family members care, significant negligence and inadequate care continue to occur. I can't imagine what happens to those who don't have advocates or family members involved in their care. Is it worth it to pursue a concern about quality? For many of us, it's not easy to act on a concern about the quality of care we or loved ones receive. The process can be stressful, frustrating and quite honestly emotional exhausting. And in the end, it's possible that others may not agree with the way we see the situation. Is it worth the time and energy to take action on concerns about the quality of hospital care? Only you or your loved one can decide. In making the decision, think about the continued harm that might take place if you do nothing. And think about how the actions you take might lead to better care for future patients.

Things To Know Before Buying Used Ophthalmic Instruments

There are many online dealers and distributors who offer both brand new and used ophthalmic instruments at affordable price rates. Some of these instruments are remanufactured or refurbished and then offered for sale through many of the online stores. Some of the most common instruments include chairs, stands, slit lamps and so forth. Apart from this equipment, advanced and higher end devices are offered for resale at a considerably lower price rate. Such devices are in great demand in the consumer markets as it is affordable.Buying used surgical equipment is quite unwise as these devices need to be impeccably precise and it should exhibit optimum performance. The used equipment seldom exhibits such features. However, it is an ideal way to begin an ophthalmic clinic as most of the devices and instruments are quite expensive. New practitioners prefer to buy used and remanufactured devices and instruments from reputed online and offline dealers as it proves to be affordable. It is quite essential to distinguish between used, remanufactured or refurbished equipment. There are some important things to know before buying used ophthalmic instrument.Some Basic Facts to Know:No Warranty: Majority of the used instruments offered by the private practitioners seldom include any warranties. There may be unseen worn parts in these devices. Buying such devices and instruments may prove to be a risky affair. It is essential to buy used instruments which are expensive and include a proper case or box.Remanufactured Equipment: Another way of buying used equipment is to shop for remanufactured devices and instruments. These used instruments are completely dismantled, repaired and then reassembled according to the specifications of the manufacturers. It then proves to be as good as the new instruments. It is one of the most affordable methods to buy these instruments. Moreover, all these devices also include a limited period of warranty.


Refurbished Equipment: Used equipment also includes refurbished ophthalmic instruments. Most of these devices are less than two years old. These devices are cleaned up thoroughly and the broken pieces are fixed or replaced. These machines are not dismantled and rebuilt again as the remanufactured devices and as a result it may tend to appear a bit worn out and used.Manufacturer Refurbished Equipment: Used instruments can also be bought from authentic dealers and manufacturers as it is possible to obtain a higher warranty period for such devices. It is also possible to buy these instruments at a competitive price rate.It is essential to consider various factors while buying used devices. The quality of the devices, the warranty period and the price of the instruments should be considered before buying it. Today there are various reputed and reliable online stores which showcase a huge spectrum of used instruments at various price rates. Most of these devices are flawless, accurate and efficient. There are stores which offer instruments which are as good as new. With a little online research, it is possible to find some of the best used instruments at reasonable price rates.

Applied Kinesiology Is Health Care for the Individual, Not the Masses

Medical studies have a big problem. They study one substance on a whole population without taking into account the FACT that individuals in that study ARE different. Applied Kinesiology takes your individuality onto account.I went to Web MD and was reading "Coffee vs. Tea for GERD (acid reflux)." They were looking for a relationship between coffee, tea and reflux. Essentially the results were inconclusive. Yet clearly some people get reflux from these substances.The problem with medical studies is that they expect all people to react the same.When evaluating someone using Applied Kinesiology we understand that there are different body types and any type can react differently. A certain type of person may not do well with caffeine or a certain type of coffee or tea.When using Applied Kinesiology I am trying to find which substances are affecting YOU, not which substances are effecting the general population.I don't tell you that your problem is all in your head because MOST people don't react the way you do.The same individuality goes for supplements.If you conducted a test of flax oil to resolve headaches you would see that for most people it would not solve the problem, but for a few it would.The medical industry would say that therefore flax oil is not the "cure" for a headache, so don't bother with it. However, it is too simplistic to say that everyone who gets a headache gets it for the same reason, or caffeine does has the same effect on every person.


If an Applied Kinesiologist sees that flax seed oil helped YOU, then he would think:"Why does flax oil help you?"
"What else is similar to that product?"
"What organs or systems does flax oil help?"An Applied Kinesiologist accounts for YOUR individualityFor many people certain products work if they are taken at certain times or in conjunction with other products or treatments. You could even have two different brands of the same type of product but one works for someone and one works for someone else.Your particular problem may have something to do with your nutrition, your emotions, your alignment and your lifestyle.Medical studies cannot take that kind of INDIVIDUALITY into account. It is trying to do mass studies on large numbers of people to find a drug that works the same on everyone. This often does not help the individual.Applied Kinesiology can account for a person's individuality by reading signs that come directly from your body. In this way we can come up with a more effective, holistic, natural plan for you to regain your health.

340B, Get It While It's Hot

The 340b program emerged in the early nineties under the Bush administration to provide a pharmaceutical purchasing reductions for specific covered entities. In essence, pharmaceutical manufacturers were asked to provide discounted drug pricing to private non-profit or government-owned institutions where high drug costs can be detrimental to the intended public service. More specifically, children's hospitals, cancer centers, HIV clinics and hospitals in an economically indigent region are among the prime beneficiaries of this special pricing.340b pricing is a negotiated process between pharmaceutical companies and the government where sometimes cost reductions can be immense. It is safe to assume that 340b savings can show 30-50% reductions comparative to retail cost. Keeping this in mind, the true economic edge of the program lies on the back end with the billing process. No insurance can differentiate between a 340b drug and a non-340b drug, therefore the price is adjudicated at average acquisition cost (AAC) at all times. This is the intended design of the program: Let the pharmaceutical industry concede profits to permit the entity to bill insurances at AAC and turn a profit.The process is defined under the Public Health Service Act where the Pharmaceutical Pricing Agreement (PPA) was instituted. In exchange for front-end 340b pricing, the prescription formularies for government funded Medicaid and Medicare agreed to reimburse for brand-name medications, such goes the PPA.The limitations to the PPA for entities lies in the concept of "double dipping" and outlines specific requirements for each patient. Primarily, 340b medications may not be used for any patient who is covered under Medicaid thereby stating that any such usage is considered a "duplicate discount". It is the responsibility of the entity to determine patient specific eligibility to maintain good faith status.As of 2010, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), reported 6,915 covered entities, more than a 200% increase from the previous year. The increase in enrollment has placed a spotlight on the program, more specifically the reimbursement side. Greater profit margins lead to an influx in cash flow via insurance compensation and windfalls in gains through the program for covered entities. The 340B program is catching like wildfire, and due to the increase in poverty and unemployment in the U.S., more hospitals and clinics are becoming eligible.


At the current moment, 340B purchasing accounts for only 2% of annual pharmaceutical sales, (approximately 6.9 million dollars). With the recent increase in covered entities, this value is likely to increase proportionally. Furthermore, with the coming of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014, the 340b program is likely to evolve. It is anticipated that the ACA will provide coverage to an additional 35 million Americans through the Medicaid program. This increase will bolster eligibility criterion for hospitals by increasing their indigent population. The result; more hospitals and clinics will be eligible for the 340b program, 340b purchasing will increase and conversely, retail purchasing will decrease. This purchasing shift is likely to hit the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies where it will certainly gain attention. For entities, this attention could certainly result in changes in the PPA such as increased regulations, increased auditing or tougher enrollment requirements.The 340b program has undergone little change in its lifetime. Recently, the government prevented covered entities from using a group purchasing order (GPO) account in addition to its 340b account. GPO accounts are designed for the benefit of both pharmaceutical companies and entities where the company provides a wholesale-type discount to the entity under the assumption that the entity will purchase large volumes of their brand. The GPO discount typically does not yield as large of a profit margin as the 340b account and as a result, most systems elected to retain their 340b account.The initial program design provided the entities with an opportunity to balance high cost pharmaceuticals within an indigent atmosphere. However, with an increasing indigent population, the program is becoming mainstream in the financial infrastructure of the entities across the country. This being said, the 340b program is likely to gain greater attention and the sooner an entity can benefit, the better. With the coming of the ACA and the anticipated increase in 340b covered entities, pharmaceutical industries will certainly begin to take notice and a revision of the PPA could be on the horizon. Money talks, and big pharma has a lot of it.

The Various Pros And Cons Of An Electronic Health Record System

An electronic health record (EHR) refers to a system that supports the storage of patient health information in an electronic digital data format in order to provide more efficient and advanced patient health care. It is extremely important to hire the services of a reputed and knowledgeable firm, which has the reputation of using the highest quality tools and advanced technologies in transferring data from document to electronic digital format. Patient health information generally includes patient demographics, health problems, progress reports, medications, medical history, immunizations and laboratory and radiology reports. The term EHR is often used to describe the software system that handles patient records preserved by a hospital or medical practice.In today's world, where almost every business is getting computerized, the medical field is not lagging behind. With digitization, the medical system is witnessing a remarkable progress in the efficiency of the staffs and an improvement in patient satisfactions.Access to Health records from Anywhere: Electronic health records provide access to patient health information from any location, which can prove to be extremely beneficial for health care practitioners, especially if they are away from their office.Provide Doctors Access to your Medical Data: In case you need to discuss your health records with your physician on an emergency basis, you can provide them access to your online medical data from anywhere and anytime. It also enables you to choose the health information you want to share with your physician at that moment.Increases Efficiency: Owing to the fact that there is a great deal of complexities involved in the field of patient care and security, an electronic health record, maintaining detailed patient information helps immensely in making the system much more efficient, quicker and cost-effective. It helps a great deal in improving the standard of care provided by health care centers and practitioners.


Saves Time: An EHR system stores important and detailed information regarding patient admissions, their past medical history and the treatment procedures used for them. This is extremely helpful for staffs to enter and access patient data, thereby saving a great deal of their time. This system also prevents the use of too many unnecessary resources.However, there are certain disadvantages of using an EHR as well. Let us discuss in brief:Privacy: One of the major problems that might arise with electronic health records is privacy related issue. In case the privacy rules are not appropriately followed, the use of EHR software can sometime put an organization at risk. An EHR can involve the chances for identity theft in case unauthorized people get access to confidential patient records.Loss of Data: There is a chance of losing patient data in case of being EHR. Any malfunctioning of the online system can lead to a complete loss of patient information.Getting Adjusted to the New System: Implementing an EHR system would require practice and education for both medical practitioners to adjust to the new way of patient care and staffs to get accustomed to the new way of storing patient data.Expensive: The conversion of patient health records from a paper system to an EHR can be an extremely expensive procedure.Despite all the cons, an electronic health care system can unquestionably make it easier for health care practitioners and staffs to achieve their goals.

Purchase Quality Health Products Online

Purchase Quality health products Online - safe and secure:The internet gives new business owners an extremely cheap way to establish their enterprise and more importantly, gives them a large audience to tap on for their products and services. Everything has become so accessible and shoppers now spend hours on the web when they want to buy something. Transactions are not only carried out with ease and convenience but they are also completed in the safest and securest manner. The most advantageous thing about online shopping is that you can do a thorough research and refer to information before actually making the purchase. For instance, if you are planning to purchase nutritional supplements, you definitely want quality health products as these have a direct effect on your body. You are looking for well-known brands such as Twinlab, Gaspari, EAS or BSN, how they will benefit your body, why should you consume them and which is the best place to purchase them.People opt for online retailers to purchase health products simply because it saves time. They do not have to take a trip to the local drugstore or healthcare center and explore the various supplements available to find the one that is best for them. The e-commerce website allows them to read all information related to the product and only then buy it. It is difficult to find legitimate products that give in the best quality and that is why a lot of people feel that the web is perhaps not a safe platform to buy quality health products. However, with the kind of lives individuals lead today, it is all about being fast and easy and that is why the Internet has become a popular choice for purchasing nutritional supplements and health goods.


There are a few points that you need to keep in mind in order to remain safe from online frauds. The first of these is to check whether the website is registered or not. The legitimacy of the website needs to be checked to ensure that goods available are legit and worth the trust. Health products made using top notch and genuine natural ingredients are hard to find, so when you know that the website is reputable, you indeed get a relief that they will be selling quality health products.These websites also offer information relating to fitness and other ailments. Online shoppers can go through this information and know of more ways that can help improve the beneficial effect of these products. Never trust websites that talk about free prescriptions or free consultations without an actual physical exam. Furthermore, make sure there is complete information on the website - contact details, office address, name of a designated person and email address.Lastly, a smart consumer is one who does not purchase products from websites that promote a new cure or a latest breakthrough in the medicine industry without asking the doctor. Sometimes a quick and easy solution is not recommended, being slow and steady still helps win the race.