Category Archive: MFLV

One glaring discovery of healthcare reform has been the importance of education and training for both patients and healthcare workers. Medical corporations, insurance providers and regulatory agencies have realized that healthcare quality improvement depends on the willingness of everyone to learn more about patients and the systems that are designed to service them. As a result, training and development have become priorities for organizations making long-term investments in healthcare delivery.

Educating Medical Professionals and Caregivers
The typical medical professional has spent a number of years learning his job. Many recognize their learning must be ongoing. They enroll in continuing education courses yearly, some of which are required for renewed licensure.

Those who excel at their jobs have an even broader motivation for learning. They serve the patient of the 21st century, one who is often knowledgeable about his condition just by having Internet access to reputable sources. Healthcare workers have to stay educated in order to stay prepared.

Educating the Patient
Despite wider access to healthcare knowledge, the average patient may still need more training and development. For some who are coping with newly diagnosed illnesses, an educational component is vital to treatment. Successful education and training programming considers this need and integrates it into healthcare delivery.

Because the Affordable Care Act has made more people aware of their options, healthcare providers must expand training offerings in order to stay connected to its patient base. At its best this training makes room for patients and caregivers to be both learners and teachers. This approach keeps healthcare systems constantly evolve.

There are emergency rooms and urgent care offices in almost every city in the country. You might think that you can get by with going to an urgent care location, but your symptoms might require the attention of immediate medical care at a hospital. There are a few ways that you can determine the difference in the kind of help that you need to seek.

If you are experiencing any kind of severe pain, especially in the chest or abdomen, then a visit to the emergency room would be beneficial so that any tests of scans can be done to rule out anything serious. An immediate medial care situation often involves bleeding that won’t stop, difficulty breathing or seizures that occur that haven’t been present. If you have a cold or virus, then an urgent care office can write you prescriptions so that you can get better. The office assists with minor cuts, burns and other injuries that might occur at home, school or work. A fever that doesn’t have a rash present can likely be treated at an urgent care facility. Tests can be done to determine if you have a urinary tract infection, strep throat or the flu. An urgent care facility is a place to go so that the emergency room isn’t overwhelmed with people who don’t have medical emergencies.

It’s nice to know there is a government agency that will help you if you are disabled and cannot work. Still, because Social Security is a government agency, there are some procedures and protocols you must observe to access that help.

Although it isn’t true that the Social Security Administration denies all first-time disability claims, they do reject nearly seventy percent. That’s hard to hear if you are applying for benefits because you cannot work. The application process is a lengthy one and that denial, on top of months of waiting, can be devastating when you need the income. Sometimes claims are denied because your disability isn’t long-term, and you will soon return to the workforce anyway, or while you cannot do the work you were performing at the time you became disabled, you can still do other jobs. The fact is the SSA has written criteria for conditions and for levels of disability. Still other claims are denied because the procedures to apply were not followed.

You need someone to help you navigate the system and who understands the “language of disability.” More than that, you need someone who can prove that your disability fits into that designation. Legal advisors such as the professionals at the Parmele Law Firm deal with disability and understand its legalities and limitations. They know, for instance, that just re-filing your application will not help your case. You must appeal the denial, and the appeal must happen within a limited time frame. Appealing a denial is advantageous to you because you want to get your case before a court, where it will be heard by a judge. Legal professionals who are versed in Social Security Disability can argue your appeal and have the best chance of winning.

Lawyers, and professional Disability Advocates, usually charge on a contingency basis, which means if they aren’t successful in getting benefits for you they are not paid. In addition, they can charge no more than 25% of back benefits, with a maximum of $6000. That means you can truly afford the professional help you need. Although there are advocates who are not lawyers, legal professionals like the Parmele staff have the best understanding of cross-examining witnesses and court protocol.

Beyond understanding procedures, you need someone who understands pain and empathizes with clients. You want someone who believes in your case, and who believes in you.

Many people don’t think about medical care until they have a problem, but there is nothing more important than you health. It is important to seek medical care quickly when something is wrong, but you can avoid many health problems by maintaining a positive relationship with your primary care physician.

It is recommended that you see your doctor once each year for a physical even if you do not currently have any medical concerns. This allows the doctor to establish a baseline for your health. Many times, it will also help your physician discover small problems before they become major issues.

When you visit your primary care physician on a regular basis, he will gain a good understanding of your overall health. If you are experiencing symptoms that are outside his level of expertise, you will likely be referred to a specialist.

Visiting a specialist is an excellent way to gain insight regarding a particular area of your health, but it’s very important to choose the right specialist. Your primary care physician will likely recommend a specific specialist to you. However, you need to check and make sure the specialist is covered under your insurance plan before you make an appointment.

It’s also a good idea to do your research to see if the specialist will likely be a good fit. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to research healthcare providers thanks to the Internet. Without even leaving your home, you can search for insurance information, patient reviews and more.

Many physicians now have websites for their practices. This is a great way to get to know them a little before your appointment. Websites vary by provider, but most include information about the doctor’s training, experience and education. You can also learn more about other doctors and staff members in the practice.

On the specialist’s website, you should be able to see which insurance providers are accepted. Many websites include the paperwork you will need to submit at your appointment. Print it out and complete in advance to minimize your wait time. Some sites even allow you to click and make an appointment instead of doing this over the phone.

Talking to your friends, family members and co-workers is another great way to find a specialist. Encourage them to provide honest feedback about doctors they have visited in the past. It’s important to learn about a doctor’s communication style and bedside manner to see if he will be a good fit for your personality and needs.

The other day, we had lunch at this little eatery that serves pretty outstanding local food at very affordable prices. It was our first time dining at the eatery. I told the hubs that the eatery’s noodles and rice dishes reminded me of my dad’s cooking. We ordered three varieties of soup-based noodles, their nasi lemak, fried rice, black coffee jelly in Kopi Cham (Spreeze) and a mango smoothie ice-cream. We loved every item that we ordered. What we did not like most about this eatery is the customer service of the waiters, in particular one male worker. His face was as ‘black’ as the black coffee jelly that we had. Each time we asked him something or added an order, he would drag his feet to our table, with a face devoid of any smile and zest. While waiting for our takeout fried rice, I could see the kitchen staff working. The staff preparing food were not wearing any gloves. Even the workers handling cooked food for takeout were not wearing any disposable gloves or face mask. The owner sure needs some health & safety risk assessments done on their eatery and workers.   On the overall, I am pleased with what we ordered. And I think the owners of the eatery should give their staff a good pep talk on a regular basis too.