Though the acronym most commonly used to refer to the conglomeration of medical, patient, and government insurance related data is still EMR, for “electronic medical record(s)”, the acronym of choice may be changing to EHR, or “Electronic Health Record(s)”.

The reason for that seems to be that the government is trying to shift the emphasis in the world of medical administration IT and medical practice management software from doctor-only to doctor and patient, and most likely, government agency and admin. They will not longer be thought of as records that reside merely within a doctor’s medical practice management system. The goal of the EHR is that all concerned parties – doctors, pharmacists, patients, hospital administrators, and the patient himself – can have access to these records.

EMRs today have similar goals but do not quite have the breadth of access, both for providers and for patients. Development of EHRs that encompass medical patient and treatment data from many sources, and are accessible to many users, is going to be expensive and complicated. Other countries have allocated more money toward this than the United States. There has been more development of such interconnected medical software systems in countries where medicine is a more socialized and government-controlled function.

Last year, the HHS Secretary commissioned the Institute of Medicine to create a standardized model for the Electronic Health Record. It emphasizes such features as results management (all medical results electronically available) decision support in areas like drug interactions, and easy electronic connections between doctor, patients, hospital administration, and other medical providers.

How can medical practices that are struggling to afford simpler medical practice management software systems and more limited EMR software pay for far ranging and still evolving EHR software programs? How will health providers know whether they are buying quality medical software when the standards for the software are changing and evolving rapidly? The transition from paper-based, or even discrete pc-based files (or combinations thereof) to a full-blown EMR software system can be costly in terms of dollars, training time, and patience in learning to use new systems.

Some private insurers are offering financial bonuses and incentives to doctors and medical practices investing in sophisticated EMR and EHR software systems. There are also efforts by some private Healthcare Management societies to certify EHRs that meet a set of standards determined by HL-7, a national standard setting group commissioned by the government to set EHR standards for the medical software developers.

There are currently so many fine EMR software systems being sold that may not meet the idealized standards set by some of these societies. The hope and understanding in the industry is that certification standards will be applied lightly for now, while the industry learns how to apply such medical software standards realistically and economically. As expanded EMR/EHR use takes hold in medical practices and health organizations across the country, it will begin to bear fruit by providing improved patient care and data management. No one is quite ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Sheldon Needle is a president and founder of CTS Guides. Mr. Needle writes about medical software and EMR software.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sheldon_Needle

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The things many would point to as indicators – youth, wealth, a fully capable body – fall short, says Charles Gourgey, a veteran hospice music therapist and author of Judeochristianity (www.judeochristianity.org), a book that explores the unifying faith elements of Judaism and Christianity.

“Youth is ephemeral, abundant wealth is for just a few, and we all experience some kind of disability, usually at several points in our lives,” he says. “A car accident, the loss of a job or a home, grief over a loved one’s dying: such things can happen to anyone and easily destroy our happiness.”

Gourgey says some of the greatest strength he’s ever seen was demonstrated by certain of his patients facing imminent death.

“Some people have complete love and grace when facing death – it’s how they’ve lived their lives, and at the end of their lives, it’s what supports them,” he says. “Those who, at the end, are peaceful, grateful and confident share some common characteristics.”

They are:

• Their love is non-self-interested. When we have awareness of and deepest respect and reverence for the individuality of others, we overcome the high walls of ego and experience a tremendous sense of freedom, says Gourgey. He says he continues to be inspired by patients who cared more for the well-being of others, including their fellow hospice patients, than themselves while facing their own mortality. Non-self-interested love – loving others for themselves without expecting or needing anything in return – is the greatest form of love, he says.

• They had an unwavering faith that transcended religious dogma. Faith is the knowledge that there is more to life than the apparent randomness of the material world; a sense that we are known to a greater reality and will return to that reality. No matter what their religion, the patients who were most at peace with their life’s journey were those who had faith in something higher than themselves. The problem with many concepts of faith, Gourgey continues, is that people attach specific doctrines to it, which means some people will always be excluded. A unifying faith – that all people are connected and love is the force that binds us – allows for trust, compassion and caring.

They were motivated by an innate sense of what is good. They didn’t get mad at themselves; they didn’t beat themselves up for mistakes they might have made in the past. That’s because they were always guided by their sense of what is good, and they made their choices with that in mind. That did not prevent them from making some bad choices or mistakes over the course of their lives, Gourgey says. But when they erred, they addressed the problem with the same loving compassion they extended to others. “Their compassion overcame even any self-hate they may have experienced.”

Many patients left lasting impressions on Gourgey, and taught him valuable life lessons. He remembers one in particular.

“She was in hospice, a retired nurse who had developed a rare, incurable disease,” he recalls. “She would go around every day, checking to see what she could do for the other patients. She fetched blankets for a 104-year-old lady who always complained of cold feet. She sat with and listened to patients who needed company and someone to talk to. She had an attentive awareness about her, like she was fully in touch with her soul.”

Gourgey was with the woman when she died.

“She was radiant, she just glowed. She kept repeating how grateful she was for her life,” he says. “It was as if the life of love she’d lived was there to transport and support her at the end.”

About Charles “Carlos” Gourgey

Charles “Carlos” Gourgey, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC, is a board-certified and New York state-licensed music therapist. He has more than 20 years of experience working in hospices and nursing homes, and for 10 years was music therapist for Cabrini Hospice in New York City. He has published articles on psychology and religion in various journals.

Why is hospital discharge planning so important for a successful recovery? The following example is one of many that happen frequently in hospitals.

A patient had parathyroid surgery. The parathyroid gland regulates calcium in the blood. A known side effect of this surgery is hypocalcemia, low calcium level in the blood.

The patient was discharged from the hospital without calcium supplements or instructions on potential complications and symptoms if a low calcium level develops. She returned to the hospital emergency room when her calcium level caused severe hypocalcemia symptoms. She was given excessive daily dosages of calcium and remained in the hospital until her condition stabilized. She was discharged from the hospital. Similar to her first hospital discharge, she was not given instructions on potential side effects. More importantly, her increased daily dosage of calcium was not reduced upon discharge. She went home continuing to take excessive amounts of calcium for many weeks. She returned to the hospital again when the increased calcium levels caused hypercalcemia symptoms which included kidney damage and several of her teeth fell out!

75% of hospital readmissions are preventable. Most of these are drug events which are preventable. Unfortunately, there is a breakdown of communication between medical providers, home health staff, nursing homes, family members and the patient. Medicine reconciliation is critical when you are discharged from the hospital. Typically, when you are admitted to the hospital your prescription drugs will change based on what the hospital uses. It is important for your health safety to reconcile your medications upon discharge to ensure that duplication and adverse side effects do not occur.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recognizes this serious, yet common problem in hospitals and has addressed it by funding Project RED, Re-Engineered Discharge. Currently, approximately 250 hospitals are participating with more to follow. The program helps hospitals to educate patients on self-care and to improve hospital discharge communication to reduce overall hospital readmission. The program was initially developed by Boston University Medical Center to help solve their own discharge planning problems.

Common questions addressed in successful discharge planning include:

What should I eat?
What activities or foods should I avoid?
Where is my pharmacy?
What is my medical problem?
What are my medication allergies?
What medicines do I need to take? Why am I taking them? How much do I take?
How do I take this medicine?
When are my next appointments?
Questions for my next appointments

Remember, if you are a Medicare beneficiary and you do not feel that you are ready to be discharged or the post-discharge planning is not acceptable to you, you can appeal the decision. http://www.lifelongwellnessadvocates.com/are-you-being-discharged-from-the-hospital-too-soon/

Lifelong Wellness Advocates, LLC is an independent patient advocacy company that serves the Colorado and Rocky Mountain region. Mary Scroggin-Harris, company founder, helps individuals and their families to be proactive with their health planning and care. Lifelong Wellness Advocates consults and educates patients so they can make informed decisions about their health care. http://www.lifelongwellnessadvocates.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6867645

Fortunately, they also have the fictional Dr. Gregory House, who makes up in diagnostic acumen what he lacks in charm and bedside manner.

Hugh Laurie’s acting talent isn’t the only reason the 2012 Guinness Book of Records ranks “House” the world’s most popular TV show. It’s as much because the premise is all too real, says Sean Belanger, CEO of CSDVRS, a national video relay services provider for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

“Many illnesses defy diagnosis and ingenious specialists are few and far between,” he says. “Which is why recent technological advances in video conferencing are so exciting. Telemedicine is not just about more convenient meetings – it’s about saving lives.”

Belanger’s corporation launched Stratus Video (www.stratusvideo.com) last year to focus on honing that technology. He understands the life-changing potential of high-quality, on-demand video conferencing – his company provides video-relayed deaf interpreting services to government agencies and businesses across the country, including the Social Security Administration, Boeing Corp. and Wal-Mart.

“On-demand, high-definition mobile video conferencing solves life-or-death problems, like the hospital patient in Georgia who needs to be seen by the specialist at the Mayo Clinic – fast,” Belanger says. “To that end, we support video technology today for American Sign Language and Spanish, and provide language interpretation access for more than 180 spoken languages, all on a mobile device.”

Telemedicine is also used to bring doctors to far-flung rural communities; save travel time and money on consultations and team problem-solving; and even to have more experienced medical professionals offering guidance and instruction during procedures.

Observation and reliable connections are critical when video conferencing is used in these ways, Belanger notes. So continuing to refine and improve the tools will have far-reaching – and very personal – effects.

“Think about what happens when you go to the doctor. He or she looks down your throat, into your eyes and ears. What they see there gives them information about what’s wrong with you,” he says. “The better the video relay system, the more reliable and trusted telemedicine becomes and, who knows?, that could even lead to lower health insurance premiums.”

At the least, it ensures patients get all the medical whiz genius of a Gregory House – without the snark.

“Hey, with video conferencing,” Belanger says, “just hang up on him.”

“We all know we should make healthier choices,” Dr. Wright explains. “But we don’t necessarily make it a priority. Sometimes it feels like we can’t make it our first choice. Staying fit and eating well seems to fall through the cracks.” Moms and dads with hectic schedules are the norm right now; this pragmatic guide to good health is written especially for them. “We want to help them achieve their goal of staying fit without sacrificing work and personal goals.”

The secret is locked inside our brains, Dr. Wright says. “I wanted to explore the psychology of why we think about being healthier but don’t actually do it. To succeed, we have to completely change the way we think about food and the role exercise plays in our lives. Then you’re open for an ‘ah-ha’ moment: just as you shouldn’t start planning for retirement a mere five years before you stop working, you shouldn’t start living healthy only when something goes wrong.”

Dr. Wright’s long medical career is the background for the guide’s comprehensive overview on healthy living. From an explanation of fats and how they affect our bodies to a fascinating account of why Americans just can’t seem to put down the Twinkies, the truth about food is revealed and medical myths debunked. The financial advantages of physical fitness are outlined, and an affordable easy-to-follow fitness routine to use at home is included. “The rules we’ve developed work as personal mantras,” Dr. Wright continues. “Protecting your family and your own health are goals that should be taken to heart.”

Making The Wright Choice even more compelling are the testimonials included by Dr. Wright and his co-author. Ordinary people have found success in their health, diets and pocketbooks by following Dr. Wright’s simple regimen, including tasty, easy recipes. The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

That means that more Americans than ever will also soon be deciding how to handle their eldercare. Steve Casto, Retirement Income Specialist and author of Is Your Retirement Headed in the Right Direction?, (www.stevecasto.com), says there are important questions and answers to consider before making that critical decision.

“The key thing to balance is the difference between what you think you’ll need and what you can afford between your liquid assets and insurance coverage,” Casto said. “If you don’t start by asking yourself the right questions, you’ll never get to the answers that will lead to a successful long-term care plan.”

Here are some questions – and their answers:

Q. Should I opt for nursing-home or in-home care insurance?
A. When selecting insurance plans, protect against your worst risk first. In-home care is more about maintenance, while care outside the home is focused on crises. Home care is good for when a person needs help getting around. If he has a stroke, he’d need to be cared for outside the home initially, so there is a need for both.

Q. What should I select as my daily allowance?
A. If your health deteriorates, a daily allowance of $100 per day could cover all your care outside the home, but only a third of the care inside the home. Your home-care costs could rocket to more than $400 or more per day, so plan for the worst.

Q. What is an elimination period?
A. Sometimes referred to as the “waiting” or “qualifying” period, this refers to the length of time between the beginning of an injury or illness and receiving benefit payments from an insurer. With long-term care, the typical elimination period is 90 days, which means you are responsible for covering the first 90 days of care on your own. Most people believe that Medicare covers the first 90 days, which is dead wrong. It only covers it under certain conditions, and not all patients meet those conditions, which include:

o A nursing home stay that follows a three-day hospital stay
o Admission to a nursing home within 30 days of hospital discharge
o A Medicare-certified nursing home
o Physician-certified need for skilled care on a daily basis

Your best bet is to be insured through a long-term care policy for that first 90 days.

“These are just a few of the issues,” Casto says. “A good starting point for those planning early is to completely discount the idea of getting a dime from Medicare. Even if it is still around when you need long-term care, the restrictions on Medicare are tightening. You’ll be lucky to get the program to pay for 10 percent of a nursing home stay.

“The real answer is to get a solid long-term care insurance policy that is based on a sound plan.”

Get Ready for Allergy Season

If you don’t want to be stuck using anti-histamines all spring, consider some natural therapies. For instance, certain allergies are related to certain foods – by eliminating those foods, even hay fever can be eliminated. Cleansing, especially candida, liver or colon cleanses can also be very effective for allergy relief, as are homeopathics.

Consider Becoming an Early Bird

Studies have shown that people who wake up earlier are healthier than night owls who completely miss the morning light. Especially after our long winter with no light, it will do you good to take advantage of the early morning light and the vitamin D it gives. Vitamin D has been found (when paired with a healthy diet) to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer by two-thirds.

Get Dirty

This has a few different connotations – feel free to explore whatever meaning you give “dirty” (spring fever anyone?). However, I am referring to dirty in the most literal sense. Who here doesn’t remember playing in the puddles as a kid? Heck, who doesn’t remember EATING mud as a kid? Not only is exposure to a little dirt good for your inner kid (and your outer kids), exposure to bacteria is important to build healthy immune systems. So go out and play in the mud!

Eat Seasonally

‘Tis the season for eating spring baby greens! When you are choosing greens, go for a mix of tastes: mild, bitter, peppery and spicy. A good example is a mix of dandelion greens, arugula, escarole, frisée, radicchio and endive. Spring greens are excellent for bone health and the digestive system, increasing digestive juices and enzymes in your liver, pancreas and stomach. Eat them before your dinner to improve your overall health.

Stop and Smell the Tulips

Even if you don’t know how to meditate, one of the most valuable principles is to live in the present. I realize you have a lot to do – we all do – but stop every once in a while and just enjoy all the beauty in your life. Do only what you are doing, be only where you are. Stop multi-tasking so much and just be. In addition, research is showing that being outdoors can have benefits for both your physical and mental health. So breathe it all in and stop fussing about everything, at least for a bit.

Spring is full of transition and promise. Enjoy it. If you need help with allergies, cleanses or setting some goals to take advantage of the newness of spring, please consult a holistic health practitioner.

Kristi Shmyr is passionate about helping people move past pain and ill health so they can enjoy a fully lived life. For health, happiness and success tips to make for a more passionately lived life, you can check Prana Holistic out on the web at: http://www.pranaholistic.ca

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4004148

After all, a good nights sleep after a day of enjoyable moderate activity, makes one wake with a clarity of thought in the morning. Other beneficial effects are weight moderation, stress reduction and a boost in natural energy levels and immunity to disease. These factors in turn lead to better all round health, which enables us to partake in more activity.

Proper amounts of sleep and activity are essential to a healthy old age so why not start off in moderation? A simple leisurely walk around the park, or a stroll to the shops is all that is needed to kick start the body’s systems into action.

Depression and anxiety can be kept at bay with regular moderate exercise.

When you increase your activity, you in turn have a good nights sleep, giving you the benefits mentioned earlier.

A lack of activity can lead to the body releasing Insulin which in turn slows the metabolism down. This generally brings about weight gain leading to depression in many.

A lack of activity is also strongly associated with the onset of Low Mood, which is recognised as a forerunner to Depression. An avoidance of smoking is highly recommended, especially in the later years where the effects can be far more damaging

Many people like to have routines such as a regular walk after waking in the morning, or walking the dog prior to retiring at night. I personally find having a set routine extremely beneficial.

Regular activity is good for the joints too, providing there are no underlying problems, of course. Taking on more activity has a very sharp impact in lifting ones spirits, and going a little further or longer each day will become easier with time. We’re not talking puffing and panting here, just approaching the borders of your comfort zone and increasing the breathing and heart rate a little.

Walking especially is a social activity, and you may find you bump into many old friends that you haven’t seen for a long time, which can be rewarding too.

The idea here is to introduce some moderate activity into persons living very sedate lives, not to create veteran athletes. So please be sensible and seek medical advice prior to starting if you feel the need.

If you do begin to feel a sharp rise in heart rate or difficulty in breathing, use common sense and slow down or rest, and ensure that you wind down slowly. You can do this by dropping your walking pace a little at a time until your body feels normal again.

Just remember little and often is the best way to start increasing activity.

Start making a list of your preferred hospitals, which have the provision for treatment of your medical problem. For example, if someone needs an open heart surgery, it might be possible that a smaller hospital doesn’t provide that treatment. Sometimes, hospitals are unequipped or don’t have specialized doctors to carry out an open heart surgery.

How to choose a good hospital? While choosing a hospital here are a few points that you might want to consider before:

1. Insurance Security: Check whether your health insurance or medi-claim covers that hospital.

2. Distance Dilemma: Is it located at a convenient distance from your residence? You don’t want to choose a one which is located very far away. And that the commutation would take long and make it difficult.

3. Doctor Preference: You may have a preference for a doctor. In that case, you’ll have to check whether doctor is affiliated with any of the medical centers in question.

4. Company Question: Does the hospital allow an advocate to attend by your bedside 24/7? It is important that you check with the hospital authorities in case you want to look after your dear ones closely.

5. Privacy Prominence: If you require private rooms, does this hospital offers the same? Many medical centers don’t offer any private rooms; all they have are general wards. So, in case you require a private room because of your medical condition, ensure that your hospital provides the same.

6. Spick and Span: No we all know medical centers are dangerous because of hospital acquired infections. So make sure that the hospital is clean and comfortable.

7. Safe or Unsafe: Does the hospital have a safe track record? Every state health department has a track record of every hospital. You can review the hospitals on your list and determine which one you’d like to choose.

Don’t forget to ask your doctor about their role in treating you at the hospital. Many hospitals have started employing specialists just on hospital’s pay-roll and replace your doctor. Ensure if such a thing will happen to you too. Now, whichever hospital you choose and howsoever long you stay; make sure you keep yourself safe.

SHW-Hadley participated in the African-American Read In at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. The African-American Read In is a program that is designed to support the National Council of Teachers of English by giving tangible evidence of our efforts to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.

SHW-Capitol Hill hosted the spring leadership forum entitled “Leading a High Performance Management Team”. There were over 50 attendee representing leadership teams from across the Washington DC metro Health Care Facilities. National Association of Health Services Executive. The National Association of Health Services Executives mission since 1968 is to continue to improve quality, access to and availability of health services for those who are poor and underserved. Mr. Al Campbell, Director of Quality and Risk Management is the Chair of Membership with this association.

UDC and SHW-Hadley have partnered to provide the Masters program students in Nutrition and Dietetics with an internship that started March 6, 2012. This 4 week internship will provide supervised practical experience to the Masters students in an effort to develop certified dieticians to serve a culturally diverse population and decrease the issues of healthcare disparity among the culturally disadvantaged. The coordinators for this program are Cathy Borris-Hale, Chief Nursing Officer and Dr. Prema Ganganee, Department Chairperson Nutrition and Dietetics at The University of the District of Columbia.

Now that you know whats going on with us, what is going on with you?