The U.S. doesn’t get its money’s worth when it comes to healthcare, according to recent statistics. The Commonwealth Fund released a report earlier this month on America’s ranking in the world healthcare system — and it wasn’t good.

According to the report, residents of the United States receive the poorest quality of care, yet pay the most for it, among six of the top industrialized nations, including Germany, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The findings were based on measures including quality, access, efficiency, equity, and outcomes of healthcare. Germany took the overall first place ranking, followed by Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

While the other five nations on the list provide universal healthcare, the U.S., with its unorganized mixture of employer-funded care, private insurance, and government programs, leaves nearly 48 million throughout the country with no insurance whatsoever. Ominously, the Fund also linked lack of insurance with poorer quality of care in another report released this month.

Texas ranks at the very bottom of the nation in numbers of people left uninsured, at just over 25%. With high incidences of poverty, unemployment, and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, the state stands to gain more than most by measures to update the healthcare and/or to make insurance available to more of the population. Most of those lacking insurance do not receive pertinent preventative care, resulting in increased long-term costs to health, as well as to the state and federal governments.

Particularly in the larger cities of Dallas, Houston, and Austin — where many from rural areas of the state come seeking care, overburdening the system further — change would be welcomed.

Activists and members of Congress are calling for an overhaul of the overburdened and outdated system, with suggestions ranging from instituting America’s own universal healthcare, to subsidizing private insurance companies in order to make healthcare coverage available to all, regardless of income.

Obviously, it’s an issue that needs to be closely analyzed, as it is “pretty undisputable that we spend twice what other countries spend on average,” as reported by The Commonwealth Fund. While, in comparison to other industrialized nations, the U.S. has the fewest patients seeing a regular doctor (16%), is the least wired (working with the fewest electronic records, and receiving the fewest electronic updates on disease treatment options), and has one of the highest infant mortality rates, we are actually spending twice as much per capita on healthcare as Germany, at $6,102. Canada spends $3,165 per capita, Australia $2,876, Britain $2,546, and New Zealand $2,083.

The U.S. also has one of the longest emergency room waiting times, takes an average of four months to deliver elective surgery, and is considered one of the less “convenient” nations when it comes to general healthcare. Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed found it “somewhat” or “very difficult” to receive care on nights or weekends.

What is most shocking perhaps, is the relatively high infant mortality rate, at 5 in every 1,000. The U.S. is tied with Poland, Hungary, Malta, and Slovakia for this statistic, and, among the 32 industrialized nations surveyed, ranked only above Latvia, at 6 in every 1,000 births. Japan, the Czech Republic, Finland, Iceland, and Norway beat the U.S. by a landslide, at approximately one-third the death rate. Every year, 16,000 newborn deaths occur in this country, mostly linked with low birth weights and premature delivery. This suggests a surprising lack of prenatal care and, indeed, measures of mothers’ well-being ranks extremely low in comparison to other industrialized nations.

African-Americans suffer almost twice the national average of infant mortality, at 9 in every 1,000 — which is closer to developing nations’ statistics than to industrialized ones. Black babies born in the U.S. are also twice as likely to be premature and have a low birth rate than their white counterparts.

Throw in scandals — like drug companies enticing doctors with “free” gifts and dinners to sell their medications, or multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company investments in medical schools — and it looks like a gloomy picture, indeed. Michael Moore’s summer release of Sicko, though sure to be controversial, undeniably raises a subject on the national consciousness.

While it is painfully obvious that something must be done — and quickly — the next step is not so clear. States such as Hawaii and Massachusetts have taken their own initiatives with state-provided health insurance, resulting in nearly 90% of their residents having insurance, and therefore better access to care. California has debated its own measures, as well as many Midwestern states.

It’s not a straight-forward debate, by any means. While nations providing universal healthcare rank higher in overall standings, the U.S. is still considered a leader when it comes to breakthrough technologies and treatment options. A balance must be struck between revolutionary research and making sure more people actually have access to its results. Reports on new HIV drugs, for instance, hint that turning HIV and AIDS into a chronic, versus fatal, condition is just around the corner…but those medications are expensive, and not everyone in the U.S. has access to them.

Residents of the U.S., however, have done little to push the initiative. The surprising lack of attention on the issue in political debates reflects the fact that voters do not choose their candidate primarily based on his or her plans for future healthcare reform. And, time and again, it has been proven that the masses’ outspoken push for measures is what gets things done on Capitol Hill. In the end, it’s really time for us — the people — to decide how to dig ourselves out of this one.

Making sure you receive quality healthcare is important. Taking care of yourself affects your health, and will certainly affect your health as you age — and eventually your wallet, as well. If you’re a young individual who tries to keep informed and maintain a healthy condition and lifestyle, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly-affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you. Visit our website, www.precedent.com, for more information. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly-competitive HSA-qualified plans, and an unparalleled “real time” application and acceptance process.

Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com

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

Diabetes is a disease whereby the body does not produce insulin or cannot use the insulin it creates effectively. Insulin reduces the amount of glucose in the blood. High glucose levels in the blood are harmful to the body and indicates that the body can’t convert glucose into energy that it needs to function. Consequently diabetics with type 1 diabetes have to monitor their glucose levels and inject insulin into the body to perform this function. Diabetics with type 2 diabetes also have to monitor their condition but don’t have to inject insulin. They might take medication that makes the body more responsive to the insulin that their body creates or simply exercise regularly and eat a specialized diet. As yet there is no cure for diabetes so this treatment and care is a lifelong task. Diabetic supplies are needed to perform this treatment and can become costly over a long time period as they need to be replenished every month or so. This is where Medicare can often help. They can subsidize some of the supplies that are needed. This article will outline some of the supplies needed to treat diabetes and how Medicare helps with the costs of the supplies.

Medicare and Diabetes

Medicare is a Federal health insurance program run by the Health Care Financing Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. Medicare covers people over 65 and people with disabilities. It comes in two forms : Part A and Part B.

Part A Medicare covers costs like hospital bills, nursing homes and hospices. Most people eligible for Medicare get Part A for no cost.

Part B is concerned with diagnostic and screening tests and medical supplies and equipment. Most people eligible for Medicare have to pay a monthly premium to receive the benefits of Medicare Part B. However in some cases assistance can be given to people that cannot afford the monthly premium.

Screening for diabetes is free under Medicare. You may receive two tests per year for diabetes.

Diabetic testing supplies like a glucose monitor, testing strips and lancets are covered by Part B of Medicare. You pay 20% of the Medicare approved cost for these items. Before you can take advantage of this saving you have to get a certified statement from your health care provider. This can be given to the pharmacy where you get your supplies from along with a Medicare claim.

Training and education on treating diabetes is also covered by Part B. Your health care provider must approve that you need assistance with your management of diabetes. You will pay 20% of the costs of the approved Medicare programs.

Medicare does not cover things like insulin, syringes, insulin pumps or diabetic medication.

Summary

Medicare is aimed at making some of the essential items for diabetes treatment available at a lower cost. It does not cover all the medication and equipment that you need however so be sure to budget for these items. Insulin and Syringes, for example can be picked up on the Internet at very reasonable prices.

Part of your diabetic treatment is knowing what food to eat. Learn more about diabetic diet plans at http://www.diabeticdietsplan.com The site deals with diets and eating healthy foods, cooking for a diabetic and some common symptoms and conditions of diabetes. Adrian Whittle writes on issues related to diabetes including diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic neuropathy.

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

If you are suffering from diabetes, be it Type 1 or Type 2, you will have to seek for expert treatment. Nowadays, Medicare diabetic supplies are marking their spot in the diabetics’ survival kit as they improve the medications and lessen their price.

Medicare covers diabetes supplies for diabetics that are insulin dependent and for those who are not. Parts of the supplies are glucose testing monitors, lancets, blood glucose test strips, and glucose control solutions.

Lancets

If you are wondering what lancets are, they are small sharp-pointed blades or sometimes needles used in getting samples of blood for testing your glucose. There are a lot of types of lancets available. Some of these have caps or other special features - included among them are automatic lancing devices and laser skin perforators.

Automatic lancing devices are hand-held tubes used in obtaining blood samples. Laser skin perforators, on the other hand, are like lancets used to puncture the skin to get blood.

Glucose testing monitors, blood glucose test strips, and glucose control solutions work hand in hand in testing diabetics’ blood sugar level and the implications thereof. However, you must still learn how to use them properly.

Glucose Monitors

A blood glucose monitor or meter is used through reading from drops of blood, which are commonly taken from your fingertip. This is put in the edge of a coated strip that is called a test strip. This blood glucose meter has the capacity of reading the strip and displaying the level of your blood glucose in a digital window screen.

In case you are wondering why test strips are expensive: the actual material is not the reason why diabetic test strips are costly, it’s the investment in the development, research, and testing of the test strips that makes it so.

Accuracy of the test strip requires a specific routine. If you forget to cipher your glucose testing monitor with every new box of test strips, then everything will be lost. You must make sure that you employ control solutions because this is the only means of knowing if the result of the test strips is accurate.

Another thing you should also consider is the compatibility of the glucose meter to your test strip. Strips sold by generic test strips or third parties, which are actually available only in Asia and Europe, are cheaper.

Doctor’s Prescription

To get your diabetes supplies or equipments you must first have your diabetic doctors’ prescription. This must state your diabetes diagnosis by your doctor. It must also tell the amount of lancets and test strips needed in a month’s time. You must also let your diabetic doctor include the kind of meter you need. Whatever you need must be provided in the prescription.

It must also state whether you are to use insulin or not and how frequent you should test your blood sugar. Also, you must always remember to ask your doctor if you are allowed to take regular sugar. You must also learn the proper means of using Medicare diabetic supplies by asking your doctor.

Shoes For Diabetics

All of these are essential in curing all types of diabetes. Other products supplied by Medicare include therapeutic shoes. Medicare offers diabetic shoes like custom-molded shoes, depth-inlay shoes, and shoe inserts for those with diabetes who falls under Medicare Part B, these people use lancets, glucose monitors, and test strips.

Your doctor must endorse the things also included in prescription for diabetes supplies. It must also contain the history of conditions of both of your feet. Moreover, it must state that you are going to be treated under some diabetic care plans and that you promptly need therapeutic shoes for your diabetes.

Medicare diabetes supplies are neither easy to access nor cheap. Yes this insurance company will pay for your supplies but the individual must first have $100 deductible before getting Medicare’s help. For you to access the medical diabetic supplies you must first file a claim that the diabetic needs a prescription from the doctor filed before the pharmacy.

Diabetics are sure to shell out a lot when it comes to curing their disease. The test strips alone and other Medicare diabetic products are very expensive, so diabetics must save a lot and learn how to handle their condition responsibly.

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Learn-About-Diabetes.com. She provides more information on topics such as Medicare diabetic supplies, Liberty diabetic supplies and free diabetes supplies that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.

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

Medicare was initially designed to cover acute care and it did not cover any routine services such as an annual physical, mammogram, prostate cancer screenings, etc. However, after 2002 Medicare Part B now pays for routine diabetic services, supplies and education.

• Screening - For people with Medicare at risk for getting diabetes, Medicare covers up to two screening blood sugar tests each to check for diabetes. You are considered at risk if you have any of the following: high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (history of abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels), obesity, or a history of high blood sugar.
• Medical Nutrition Therapy - Medical nutrition therapy is meeting one on one with a registered dietician or other certified nutrition professionals to design the meal plan that helps you maintain blood glucose control. Your primary health care provider must give you a referral indicating a diagnosis of diabetes and a need for medical nutrition therapy. It also covers gestational diabetes. Medicare will pay 80 % of approved amount for up to ten hours of counseling with a registered dietician or other certified nutritional professional in an initial twelve month period. Bear in mind that you can only receive a total of ten hours of medical nutrition therapy or diabetes self-management education or a combination of both in the same twelve month period. If follow-up sessions are needed, you will need a new referral from your doctor stating that your medical condition has changed and adjustments to your meal plan are necessary.
• Diabetes self-management education- Diabetes self-management education must be taught by a certified diabetes educator (CDE) or a registered nurse. Keep in mind, that the ten hours is for either diabetes education, medical nutrition therapy or a combination of both. Anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can receive diabetes education sessions if you have a referral from your primary care physician and meet certain criteria.
• Blood Glucose Monitoring Supplies- Medicare will cover the 80% of the costs of glucose meters, strips and lancets after your Part B deductible. If you are insulin dependent, Medicare will cover 100 test strips and 100 lancets every month and one lancing device every 6 months. If you are not insulin dependent Medicare will cover this quantity every three months and one lancing device every six months. If you need more than this, you will need a prescription from your doctor. For example, if you order a 3 Month complete diabetic testing kit which includes a clinically accurate meter, strips and lancets from bluesparrowmedical.com for about $60 then, your cost is $12 (20%).
• Therapeutic Shoes-Therapeutic shoes are covered for Medicare beneficiaries with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes if they have a peripheral neuropathy.
• Insulin Pumps-If you require an insulin pump to deliver small doses of insulin at regular intervals throughout the day and night, Medicare will cover 80% of the approved cost if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Of course, you need a prescription and you must have completed a diabetes education program.

As always, check with your managed care representative as plans may vary.

Bapi Mohanty is a former management consultant with Deloitte & Touche where he worked with health care clients such as Kaiser Permanente, Pacificare, UHP, and Blue Cross. He currently works with Fortune 500 companies in compliance and risk mitigation.

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

Medicare Part D is the two-year-old part of traditional Medicare that covers some of the cost of prescription medications. Choosing from among potentially dozens, if not hundreds, of plans is made somewhat easier if you use the tools on the Medicare site. Figuring out how to get through the (in)famous financial “donut hole” is another matter.

First, a quick explanation for those who are unfamiliar with how Part D works:

Every person who has elected to participate in traditional Medicare has the option of purchasing a Medicare-approved prescription drug policy from a participating private carrier. During the first open enrollment period, when someone is first signing up for Medicare, there is a seven-month window during which the enrolee may choose any Part D plan. These seven months consist of the month the enrolee turns 65 or becomes eligible for Medicare, the three months before the birthday month, and the three months after the birthday month.

There is no requirement that anyone enroll in Medicare Part D. However, there is a financial penalty that increases every month an individual waits. Enrolling in Part D several years after the initial eligibility period could be very costly.

In addition to a monthly premium that varies according to the chosen insurance plan, some Part D participants will pay an annual deductible and a co-payment every time they purchase a prescription. Some plans do not require a deductible.

Participants will purchase their medications for only the cost of their co-payment amount until the total amount that has been spent by both the individual and the insurance company together equals $2,510 (in 2008).

After the individual and the Part D insurer have spent $2,510, the insured must then pay the next $3,216.25 (in 2008) from his or her own pocket. When the insured person has purchased medications costing $3,216.25 in a calendar year, catastrophic coverage begins and the Part D insurance company will pay the full cost of all medications for the balance of the year with the exception of a very small co-payment of 5% or less.

During the time the insured is “in the donut hole” and paying 100% for all prescriptions, he or she must continue to pay monthly Part D premiums.

Whether Medicare Part D is a good idea or a boondoggle, it is the plan we have today. The biggest issue for many Medicare beneficiaries is how to get through the “donut hole” when there is no prescription coverage. Many will find themselves in this financial gap for several months, with no hope that they will reach the other side where their insurance will again help with costs. These are the people who are looking for the best ways to reduce their personal medication costs.

1. Whenever possible, even before reaching the “gap,” ask if generic drugs will fit your needs. Some Part D insurers will cover generic drugs through the “gap.” If they don’t, generic medications are always less expensive than branded drugs.

2. Ask the doctor for free samples.

3. Ask if you can split your pills. There is often little or no cost difference for a pill that is twice the dose your doctor has ordered. If you can split these pills, you can purchase 60 days of medication for the cost of 30 days.

4. Shop around. There are often wide variances between pharmacies. Comparing costs between pharmacies can save as much as 25% or more. Costco and Sam’s Club pharmacies do not require that you be a club member to use their services.

5. Apply to Patient Assistance Programs. Some manufacturers offer free medications to individuals with financial needs. You can check with the Patient Assistance Program Clearinghouse at (800) 955-0989.

6. Apply for the Extra Help low income subsidy program. Individuals with low incomes and few financial assets can qualify for subsidized coverage that has no donut hole.

Be aware that if your drug costs are high and you expect that you will reach the catastrophic coverage portion of Part D, using these tactics to reduce your costs will stretch out the amount of time you may be stuck in the donut hole.

If Medicare Part D and other elder care questions are driving you crazy, come have a nice cup of something soothing to drink while we explain what you need to know about senior care in America in plain English.

The Eldercare Team invites you to learn how to help an elderly parent or other relative deal with all the ins and outs of the eldercare maze. Pick up resources, more articles and plenty of tips about helping seniors at http://www.eldercareteam.com

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

I work for a durable medical equipment company who specializes in wheelchairs. In the past when a patient has come to us with a prescription from their doctor for a manual or power wheelchair we would evaluate them for the best type of wheelchair to meet their needs based on their diagnosis, lifestyle and home environment. We would make our recommendation and order the wheelchair if the patient was in agreement.

How we were paid was based on Medicare’s allowable. Every wheelchair has a code assigned to it and Medicare has an allowable amount to be paid for each code. Medicare paid 80% of the allowable and the patient was responsible for the co-pay of 20% unless they had secondary insurance. This worked well and patients received the best equipment to meet their needs and all durable medical equipment providers were paid the same allowable so patients could use whoever they preferred.

The allowable Medicare pays is already lower than almost all other insurance companies. Medicare guidelines for providers to follow in order to get the patient a wheelchair has become a long and tedious process as they have changed the documentation requirements. The burden of proof that the patient actually needs the equipment provided has basically fallen to the provider. No matter what the doctor has ordered providers must have medical exam notes, progress notes and other documentation to prove medical necessity for equipment.

Now Medicare has implemented a new program of competitive bidding. This program was implemented to save the government money. Competitive bidding allows Medicare to award contracts to suppliers with the lowest bid. Now I am all for saving the government money and I hate to see money spent unwisely. However, competitive bidding is not the answer.

How does this affect you?

More than half of Medicare’s DME providers are expected to go out of business under this program.

Patients will have little choice of who provides their equipment. Consumer choice is reduced or eliminated. Patients will have to go with Medicare’s winning bidder. Patients will in most cases receive the lowest-cost equipment instead of what is appropriate for them and their diagnosis.

Competitive bidding effectively eliminates free market competition that encouraged high quality care for patients.

Elderly patients should not be required to submit to the services of the lowest bidder to Medicare. With competitive bidding Medicare, not seniors, will decide which providers seniors are allowed to purchase any equipment they need from.

How can it be beneficial for seniors to lose freedom of choice? Everyone deserves the right to pick their own health care providers.

J. Wilson owns and manages the website http://www.managealldebt.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Wilson

Medicare is a Health Insurance Program geared towards people 65 years and older, people with disabilities under the age of 65, and those with End-Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant).

There are many different types of Medicare and finding the right plan can be confusing. Here’s a quick run-down of the most popular plans:

Part A comprises Hospital Insurance, and most people do not need to pay for it. Part B on the other hand comprises Medical Insurance, which people pay for monthly.

The Original Medicare Plan is available throughout the United States and is the plan most people are on. You can go to any doctor, hospital, or specialist that accepts the plan. You might need a supplemental policy to work in conjunction with your policy.

The Medicare Managed Care Plan on the other hand is approved by Medicare but run by private companies. It’s an HMO or PPO plan, and usually you have a restricted list of doctors, hospitals, or specialists covered by your policy. On the Managed Care Plan your deductibles might be lower than on the Original Medicare Plan, and it fills in a lot of the holes that Medigap would otherwise cover.

Lastly, there is the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, created as a supplemental plan to help people finance their medication needs in conjunction with their Original Medicare Plan. If all these different options confuse you, you’re not alone. Medicare is so big and complex; it should have its own zip code. When lost, the government website is a tremendous resource that you can tap. Talk to knowledgeable friends and family or a healthcare consultant.

Things to know, beyond Parts A and B

Before embarking on a Medicare plan, it’s important to understand Medicare’s controversial history. Exploring the beginnings of any institution of which you’ll be a part will help you to grasp its present situation.

It began as a great effort on the part of the US government to provide seniors and people with disabilities affordable health coverage. The program initially faced resistance due to allegations of it being a too communistic approach. The issue of health insurance has always been a sticky subject in American politics. Many other countries seem to provide more extensive coverage plans than the US. Regardless of the debate, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare into law in 1965, and Medicare was said to cover a whopping 42.3 million people in 2004.

It would take a book to describe the endless criticisms it has faced since its inception. The most recent controversy revolves around the Prescription Drug Plan, or Plan D. Critics argue that Plan D is too expensive for the US government and too confusing for most seniors. Some even claim that it was created to boost revenues for pharmaceutical companies rather than help seniors afford prescription medication.

Added to that is the present controversy behind Medicare Fraud. In 1998, the United States General Accounting Office reported $12.6 billion dollars in loss due to Medicare Fraud in the form of billing for services not performed, or billing for equipment and services more expensive than they actually are. There are also cases of phantom patients and aggressive marketing to get seniors to purchase procedures and equipment they do not need. All these schemes make for higher deductibles and premiums for paying Medicare members.

These are only the recent problems. There are many more. Get as much information as you can before beginning a Medicare Plan. Contact a healthcare agent or do your own research online so that you fully understand the healthcare matrix you’re being dropped into. The more informed you are, the easier you can brave the storm.

http://www.TheSeniorView.com

Welcome to the largest source of information and resources for seniors. We are dedicated to providing everything you need to live an enjoyable and healthy lifestyle. Here you will find news relevant to your life and articles focused on your lifestyle. We provide you with all the resources necessary to live a safe and happy life.

Services - Find the services you need to live a safe and active lifestyle. http://www.theseniorview.com/Main/Services.html

Articles - Find information about to make informed decisions. http://www.theseniorview.com/Main/Articles.html

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

With the presidential debates gearing up again we are sure to hear more about health care. But we propose a slightly different question. In addition to asking how we can get more people healthcare coverage, we should also ask why so many people are sick in the first place.

The words of John Kennedy might today be, “Ask not what the health care system can do for you. Ask what you can do to reduce the health care burden”. But before delving into what we can do, let’s take a look at some realities that our next president could face in their first ‘State of the Union’ address.

On the downside -

* We are not healthy: 60% of adults and 20% of kids are overweight; 30% of today’s kids are anticipated to become diabetic; 20% of high school kids have early stages of heart disease. The estimated economic burden of depression for the year 2000 (most recent estimate) was $83.1 billion, and this is just one of many brain-related diseases

* We are aging: within the next couple of decades, about 20% of the population will be of retirement age; 4.5 million people already have Alzheimer’s disease and by 2050 there will be 16 million cases.

* We are heavily medicated: anti-depressants are the leading selling drugs in the United States; record numbers of children are on these and anti-psychotics; for adults, cholesterol and blood pressure medicines are becoming as common as breakfast cereal.

On the upside -

* The US government estimates that healthier lifestyles could save $71 billion per year in health care costs and another $14 billion in lost productivity.

* 1 out of 7 deaths are premature and could be avoided with better diets and active lifestyles.

Perhaps the next president should spend a little effort promoting methods to improve these statistics. But how?

We typically think of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer’s dementia as very different problems. But the more we learn about disease, the more we realize that these seemingly different diseases often have a lot in common at the cellular and molecular level. They also have a lot in common when it comes to how they gained a foothold in your brain and body to get started in the first place.

However, we have an arsenal of tools proven to help reduce common cellular damage to maintain fit brains and bodies. What are those tools? Some high tech drugs and medical equipment that is out of reach for much of the population lacking health care insurance? Actually, no. These tools are very low tech and available to everyone. They are:

1. Eating a quality diet

2. Getting regular physical activity

3. Keeping your mind active and engaged

4. Getting enough sleep and rest

Sounds easy, right? So why don’t we all do it, and why didn’t we have all of these problems 50 and 100 years ago?

First of all, in yesteryear a breakfast muffin contained about 150 calories. Today that muffin is 400 calories. A large drink at the soda fountain totaled 12 ounces. Today, that drink is the smallest size on most menus. Yes, we are suffering from proportion distortion. We love to eat, and it ain’t peas and carrots we are a cravin’.

Second, for many people going to work actually meant going to work, physically. Today, the extent of our office exercise is finger aerobics on our QWERTY keyboards. Physical activity used to be a regular part of everyday life, not a chore that you have to schedule into your day.

Third, as Alvaro pointed out on a recent Sharp Brains blog, many of us ‘outsource our brains’ and no longer think for ourselves. With mass media messages, GPS systems, calculators, spell checkers and electronic organizers, we must ask the question how well we could function without them. I know I am guilty of this one, myself.

Finally, we are staying up later and getting up earlier to meet those deadlines. On average, we get 1.5 hours less zzzzzs than we did about 100 years ago. Not only that but we spend far more time busy, busy, busy when we are awake than we ever used to.

Now, change happens. We shouldn’t expect to always do things the way we used to, and we’re not suggesting that. Food, in all its irresistible varieties, is much more available. Are we supposed to just not eat it. Well, uh, it wouldn’t hurt to pass on the second helping of triple chocolate cheesecake now and then.

And no, we can’t jog around our office but we can do simple things to introduce more activity into our day. Walk instead of drive those 1-mile errands. Park further from the door, take the stairs . . . you’ve heard all this before. So why don’t we do it?

One reason is that no one likes to be told what to do and subjected to some guilt trip, most people just don’t respond to that. Also, most people haven’t really thought about what they really want their health to look like or developed a reasonable plan to reach their health-goals. As the old adage says, “If you don’t know where you are going, you are sure to get there”, plus it helps to have a map. Finally, even with a plan many folks will give up after the first sign of failure or fatigue. These changes don’t become easy until we make them an integral part of our lives.

So how do you motivate people to take action to maintain their health? Since everyone is different, many options exist. The obvious answer, that will motivate the most people, is money, money, money . . . money (did you hear ‘The Apprentice’ theme song).

At a policy level, it would be exceptionally helpful if the next president worked to create incentives for healthy lifestyles and behaviors. Now, I know this is easy to say, probably not as easy to do (and keep everyone happy), but you have to walk before you run.

What if the next presidential administration actually incentivized (is that a word yet?) us to take better care of ourselves? What if health insurance companies gave discounts to people that tried to live a healthy lifestyle? What if the government gave us tax breaks to eat healthier food and exercise? What if each individual had one government subsidized continuing education, or self-enrichment class each year? Would this reduce the overall health care burden for employers and make it more affordable to cover more people? Help reduce sick days and increase productivity and creativity? Hmmm….

We realize there are many caveats to implementing such a plan but something has to be done and maybe some bright politician can figure out how to do it. Who would lose if the country were to improve their health?

Insurance companies wouldn’t have to fork out as much. Medical providers would be able to divert more of their attention to preventing disease, instead of managing chronic illness. The government wouldn’t be in such a hot seat for the health care crisis. Big Pharma might sell fewer drugs, but there are several new health-related industries that they have the expertise to tap into. Basically, we would all win.

So back to our initial question: “Why are we so sick in the first place?” If you step back and see the forest for the trees, our world has changed drastically in the last 50 to 100 years. With technology, and the availability it brings, we may have become a little complacent, a little too trusting that the magic cure-all pill is there for us.

It is true that we are living longer. But I’m sure with increased longevity, everyone would want at least a reasonable quality of life and currently that isn’t the status quo. So the answer to our question seems to be….lifestyle choices. Making the best lifestyle choices, and maintaining them, isn’t always easy but the best things in life rarely are.

So Madam or Mister President, will you help us help ourselves?

Copyright (c) 2008 BrainFit For Life

Learn to control stress, improve your metabolism and boost your intelligence with the four cornerstones of Brain Fitness. Visit http://www.BrainFitForLife.com for FREE Brain Fitness resources.

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

Whether communicating with friends and family, trading goods and services, researching favorite topics, or enjoying music and other entertainment-the Internet is simply a different delivery channel for the things we’ve all been doing, and still do, in other ways. It is these three factors - convenience, low cost and timeliness - that make the Internet so compelling.

Changing the way clinicians do business
Effective healthcare delivery, beyond pharmaceuticals and devices, is contingent on ready access to accurate, timely information. The best healthcare information is of no value if it cannot be located, shared and applied. The value of information-sharing and the idea of cooperative medicine are well known and appreciated. To effectively facilitate information-sharing, and provide a higher level of value and customer service, healthcare organizations are taking advantage of technologies that facilitate sharing - most importantly, the Internet.

The basic premise of the Internet is to enable people to quickly and easily access and share web-based documents and applications. With pressure to be cost-effective, web-based “software as a service” applications are growing in popularity - mainly because they require no additional expensive software or servers to buy or maintain, and the data that resides in these applications is available in a timely manner at the cost of a workstation loaded with a web browser. In addition, the information stored in these applications can be accessed from any computer in any location, by anyone with the required security access. Security has advanced to the point where data can be protected and the risk of data theft is much lower than in the recent past.

One example of a new web-based “software as a service” application is Kardia Health Systems’ EIMS (Echocardiography Information Management System), a comprehensive echo lab workflow solution. EIMS supports data acquisition, diagnosis and interpretation, clinical reporting, patient scheduling, and coded billing within one application. EIMS facilitates ready access to patient records and enables physicians to review echo measurements and generate structured echo reports via a browser from any location. This is especially useful for cardiologists working for multiple practices and from remote locations. This web-based application provides one central location for patient data with permission-based access from a secure common data server set.

Changing the patient provider relationship
The benefits inherent in “software as a service” also have the potential to greatly improve healthcare delivery and patient care. Because the Internet removes geographical restrictions, physicians can analyze data regardless of the location of the patient or physician. This gives patients and healthcare institutions access to qualified physicians, regardless of the location of the patient or the physician, and allows multiple providers to review the same data and collaborate on diagnoses. Healthcare organizations that embrace timely information delivery to deepen the customer relationship will be rewarded with more loyal customers because they have removed levels of customer frustration from the operational process.

The integration of secure, timely information via the Internet with healthcare delivery ultimately provides a higher level of service and patient care, both from a collaborative medical perspective (providing the patient with a more knowledgeable diagnosis) as well as from an educational perspective (allowing physicians to more easily learn from one another). It improves the operational efficiencies of the practice, enhances the health and longevity of patients, and creates a deeper, more rewarding practitioner/patient relationship.