Current Health Care Issues

There are several health care issues that are in the news and in the minds of many people these days. Perhaps because of the push for universal health care, misuses of the current health care system have come to light. The health care issues that plague Americans need to be addressed with intelligent debate and understanding.

One of the health care issues is the overuse of emergency rooms by the poor. It is not their faults. They are simply responding to a situation in which they have no other recourse. For example, a low-income family may have a child with a cut finger. If they had insurance, the parents would take the child to a doctor's office or an urgent care clinic to get the finger stitched up.

Health Care

Since they have no such option, they take the much more costly route of going to the emergency room for the same service. This puts a strain on emergency rooms and costs taxpayers much more than if the poor families were given adequate medical coverage in the first place. Health care issues like this one are difficult to fathom when there are so many sources of cheaper medical care.

Other health care issues involve preventative medicine. Insurance companies do not all support the patient's right to preventative medical screening procedures and treatments. This also makes health care more expensive in the long run.

Many health care issues revolve around the older population. There are so many elderly people who are given little or no help with their prescription medications. Insurance companies make drug coverage available - at a price that is so high that most seniors cannot afford it. This does little to resolve these health care issues.

With all the health care issues that are in the public eye, there needs to be a better system of communication on these subjects. People can have an impact on their health care system if they know where to have their ideas on health care issues heard. It is time for the government and other organizations to give them a voice.

Current Health Care Issues

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Health Care Teams - 3 Strategies to Implement to Work Better Together

Health care systems are experiencing significant changes and stress that require innovative skilled teams. In fact, integrated teams, accountable care organizations and medical home models are being formed and piloted to provide quality patient care at a reduced cost. These health care delivery models will need teams that can work together. This article will discuss 3 strategies that teams can implement to work better together.

Strategy 1: Identify the Rules of Engagement (ROE)

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Teams need to set up the standards and expectations that they will follow when they work together. These standards and expectations are the rules of engagement. All team members should participate in formulating the ROE. When individuals participate in the formulation process, buy-in and accountability are maximized. Examples of ROE statements include:

• Respect for others
• Not interrupting others when they are speaking
• No name calling
• Coming prepared for meetings
• Accomplishing assignments and task on time
• Meeting deadlines

Have team members agree to and sign the ROE.

Strategy 2: Strengthen the Relationships of Team Members

Strong team member relationships promote effective working relationships. It is essential that health care teams develop working relationships that promote patient safety and quality patient care. Create activities that promote positive interpersonal interactions. Such activities include: workshops, lunch and dinner, celebrations, concerts and strategy sessions. Survey the team members to determine which activities they enjoy and would like to participate in as a group. Provide a diversity of activities.

Do you remember a time when you were a member of a team and felt a strong relationship with the team members? How were the relationships developed and sustained? What activities and behaviors promoted the positive interactions? How can you use these experiences to strengthen the interactions with your present team?

Strategy 3: Create a Compelling Vision with Goals that Stretch

Teams that work well together have a compelling purpose and vision to keep their eye on. In health care the vision of providing quality patient care is a compelling vision. Individuals enter the health care field to help others. The majority of health care professionals are motivated to help others who are ill and provide the best compassionate patient care.

Set up goals that stretch the team. The goals should be specific, realistic and measurable. Teams that work together towards a goal develop a sense of purpose and mission. The teams develop a sense of commitment and accomplishment that bring team members together. The team experiences a sense of cohesion that can be sustained.

Health Care Teams - 3 Strategies to Implement to Work Better Together

And to help you get started in developing your leadership skills and create powerful healthcare teams, you are invited to claim your complimentary special report "The Top Ten Costly Mistakes Physician Team Leaders Should Avoid" when you visit http://physicianteamstrategies.com.

From Mary Ann Orzech, MD -- The Physician Team Strategist

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Saving Money With Home Health Care

Home health care has become a viable option not only for elderly people, but also for people of all ages with either temporary or long-term special medical needs. With such care, a patient can remain in the comfort of his/her home and still receive specialized medical treatment or assistance with personal care needs. Oftentimes this will be more acceptable to the patient when given the option of staying in their own home versus moving into a nursing home or hospital.

Home health care can consist of having a private-duty nurse come to the patient's home for extended care or help with a ventilator, IV's, gastrostomy tubes and other chronic medical needs. It can also involve the training of household members to give such treatments under supervision. Home personal care can be provided to help with meals or personal grooming as well as assistance with household chores such as cleaning or laundry.

Health Care

Ask your personal physician or local hospital for recommendations when it comes to choosing a home care agency. Don't be afraid to question the agency about the training and supervision of their staff. Ask how problems are addressed and resolved and if there is someone on call 24 hours per day.

Choosing a home health care agency should not be taken lightly, but if you can find an appropriate fit for you loved one, a home health care agency usually costs only 1/5 of the cost of moving the patient to an outside facility. It has proven to be a cost-effective alternative to health care and usually results in a happier patient.

Saving Money With Home Health Care

Donna has many interests in addition to writing articles. She also loves to collect various items such as contemporary art glass marbles and space race memorabilia. Please check out her new website related to antique clock parts at http://www.antiqueclockparts.net.

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Cat Health Care - Signs of Cat Flea Infestation and Prevention Tips

Fleas are horrible little parasites that attack cats by laying their eggs in the cat's fur; the eggs will hatch into larvae and later will develop into fleas. Depending on the color of the cat's coat, spotting the fleas can be very difficult especially if infestation is light.

Excessive scratching especially behind the ears or around the neck may indicate that fleas are present and causing havoc to the cat's body. Another sign of flea infestation is when the cat obsessively grooms the base of its tail or along the spine. You might also want to take a closer look at the cat's body, if indeed infestation has occurred, highly visible dark flaky specks can be seen particularly along the spine and the base of the tail. In fact, during heavy or severe infestation, you can actually see the fleas roaming all over the cat's body.

Health Care

Light infestation is not really a cause for concern and you can easily solve this by using a flea comb, this handy little grooming tool can be purchased at most pet stores. Now, heavy infestation on the other hand, requires more than just a mere comb. You need a flea treatment to get rid of all the fleas such as the Frontline, even the most severe infestation can be eradicated within forty-eight hours by using this powerful cat flea treatment.

You can purchase the best flea treatment available in the market but you can never achieve positive long term results, if you do not take the necessary steps to prevent flea infestation from occurring in the first place. After all, prevention is always better than cure. There are three simple things that you can do to prevent fleas from attacking your furry companion. Provide your cat with a healthy, well balanced diet, this will definitely help reduce the chance of flea infestation and at the same time, improve the quality of the cat's coat.

Next, make sure that your cat's surrounding environment such as the litter tray, basket, furniture, condo etc are clean, try cleaning them at least once a week, and also it wouldn't hurt to keep your house clean as well. The cleaner the cat's environment equals less chance of getting fleas. Finally, groom your cat regularly and give it a bath every four or six months. Bathing your cat too often like once a week for instance, is definitely not recommended, not only will it affect your cat's health, it may also leave a psychological scar on your cat. Although you mean well, unfortunately from the cat's perspective, bathing is excruciating so unless your cat is really dirty, stick to bathing two or three times per year max. Try using a waterless bath to clean your cat without the need for water, it cleans and freshens your cat and may also help to keep flea infestation at bay.

Cat flea infestation should not be taken lightly and depending on the severity, it can be life threatening especially to kittens because excessive biting by fleas can actually result in massive blood loss. Further more, your cat might accidentally consume some of the fleas while grooming which may result with infestation by another parasite, the tapeworm.

Remember prevention is always better than cure so ensure your cat's environment is clean, regular grooming and provide a healthy balance diet to minimize the chance of getting fleas.

Cat Health Care - Signs of Cat Flea Infestation and Prevention Tips

Haziga Slamil is a long time cat owner and currently owns 12 happy and healthy cats. Check out her website to obtain more tips and advice on topics regarding cat nutrition, behavior, grooming and health care. Visit http://www.bubucats.com

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Pet Health Care Costs

One of the biggest things to keep in mind before deciding to purchase an animal is going to be the pet health care costs you'll be facing. These costs differ dramatically between different types of pets and different situations. For instance, there's probably no comparing the most dire medical costs for a hamster to even the most basic health costs of a horse. While we'd all like nothing more than for our pets to be entirely healthy and happy for all the years of their lives, we must operate under the assumption that something serious inevitably will happen, and that in such an event, we, as owners, must be willing to pay the resulting veterinary costs. So what kind of up front costs can you expect? What should you be prepared for? Read on to have your questions answered.

As you make your pet purchasing decisions, ask yourself how much pet health care cost you're prepared to deal with. If your answer is "not very much," it's probably best to invest in a lower budget animal such as a goldfish or betta fish or a small mammal like a hamster or mouse. This is not to say that these animals will have perfect health and will never need to see the vet, but the likelihood of a fish or hamster incurring hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of medical care is slim. Unlike dogs, cats, or horses, a fish or small mammal doesn't require yearly vaccinations or check-ups. If you're on a budget, avoid any animal that's considered "exotic" such as reptiles, amphibians, and exotic birds like parrots. Many times, these animals require special, difficult to find vets who charge more for their expertise. Research and plan before you buy!

Health Care

While you may not have any up-front health costs for a hamster, fish, or other small animal, you have to consider the fact that your pet may take ill at some point. For fish, one of your biggest concerns will be a disease called Ich, which can be treated with a bottle of solution from the pet store. For hamsters, mice, and other rodents, home-diagnosis is usually tricky, so a trip to the vet will be necessary. Most vets charge a flat fee for an office visit-that is, just for bringing your animal into the exam room. This fee varies from vet to vet, but expect to pay anywhere between and just for the visit, plus extra for whatever medication your pet might require.

For larger or more exotic animals, your pet health care costs will inevitably increase. Puppies and kittens alike must have 3 or 4 rounds of booster shots in their first few months of life. Depending on your vet, this set of vaccinations can run anywhere from to 0. After the booster shots, your cat or dog will need a check up, vaccination, and rabies shot every year for the rest of their life. On top of that, you'll need to have your dog or cat spayed or neutered around the age of 6 months. The cost of spaying or neutering depends upon the type of animal, and upon the animal's gender. As spaying is far more invasive than neutering, it's naturally going to be more expensive, and since dogs are generally larger than cats, the cost will be greater for dogs. Expect to pay between and 0 to have a cat altered and between and 0 to have a dog altered. Some cities offer low-cost spay/neuter clinics where you can get a considerably reduced-cost surgery--a feline neutering could be as little as at a low-cost clinic!

As much as you don't want to think about it, you must also factor potential major illnesses or emergency situations into your pet planning. A basic broken bone can rack up a bill around ,000 for a dog or cat. A major internal surgery and stay at the vet could cost you upwards of 00. Treatment for a chronic illness such as cancer could have you looking at numbers in the ,000's as well. Some animals may develop conditions that require daily medication, in which case you'll have monthly costs to contend with that could be from for a basic medication on up. For horses or other larger animals, add another zero to each of these cost estimates.

While owning a pet should never be reduced to a matter of numerical figures, the reality of pet health care costs must be dealt with before you bring an animal into your home. You owe it to yourself to be fiscally responsible, but moreover, you owe it to the living creature who is going to be depending on you for its every need.

Pet Health Care Costs

About The Author: Barry S. Mcgee is a pet enthusiast. His site at: http://www.squidoo.com/petcareonline provides advice and information on all aspects of pet care for all types of pets including dogs, cats, ferrets and others and makes it easier for pet owners to choose the best solution for their companion's care.

For answers to all your pet care questions, please visit: http://www.squidoo.com/petcareonline

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How To Care For Pomeranian Health Problems

Toy breeds are affected by many health problems and the Pomeranian is one of them. It is very important that you look out for Pomeranian health problems. By knowing which health problems to be on the lookout for you can spot health problems before they become life threatening or permanently harm the dog, allowing the veterinarian to treat the condition before it is too late.

A condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus or PDA commonly affects Pomeranian's. It is a type of congenital heart disease that can lead to heart failure and death unless you correct it at an early age. The female is twice as likely to get PDA as the males. By eight months of age half the dogs that are not treated will develop left sided heart failure. Other breeds aside from the Pomeranian that are affected by this condition include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, German Shepherds, Toy and Miniature Poodles, Collies, Cocker Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs.

Health Care

Another of the common Pomeranian health problems includes entropion, which is an eye defect in which the eyelid turns in towards the eyeball. This causes the hairs or lashes to rub against the surface of the eye. This condition may involve either the upper or lower eyelids or even a combination of both. Typically Pomeranian's will have both eyes affected. The condition is very painful for the dog and will cause their eyes to water and the hairs on the face may become stained from the tears.

To correct the problem surgery is required. The signs of this condition include excessive tearing, red eyes and squinting. If the condition is not corrected as soon as possible then it can result in damage to the eye that can be severe enough to cause either partial or complete loss of vision for the dog. This is why it is important to recognize this condition and have it treated as early as possible.

Pomeranian health problems also include conditions that are inherited from the adults to the puppies. Two of the most common include hydrocephalus and patellar luxation. Hydrocephalus is more commonly known as "water on the brain" and is a condition in which the brain cavity of the skull collects excess fluid. Most of the time the condition is a result of trauma, but the Pomeranian's can also have it as a hereditary condition. Puppies affected with this condition will develop more slowly. For adult dogs the signs of this condition include circling, pacing, seizures and paralysis.

Patellar luxation is a inherited joint condition known as "slipping kneecaps". This is when the kneecap doesn't have a groove deep enough to move in and as a result slips out of the groove. With this condition you will notice your dog hopping for a few steps. Typically the condition is corrected permanently through a single surgery.

How To Care For Pomeranian Health Problems

Rosie Allanhas an extensive knowledge of the health problems of the Pomeranian. An important part of Pomeranian care is knowing the common health problems that affect the breed. If you know the common health problems of a Pomeranian then you can know when to seek emergency care for your Pomeranian

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10 Tips For Choosing the Perfect In-Home Health Care Agency

When caring for your aging parent or loved one becomes overwhelming and you need a break, or when extra help is needed with bathing, feeding, dressing, household duties or if caring for them yourself is just not possible anymore, selecting an in-home health care provider is a good alternative.

Proper screening is essential to ensure that the person you choose has, not only the skills to provide excellent care, but also the right personality for the job. Consider these tips and hints and you will find that hiring an in-home heath care provider does not have to be stressful.

Health Care

1. Evaluate Your Loved One's Needs
While some older adults just need assistance with basic living skills, others have additional health care needs that require a special skill set. Therefore, it is necessary to make a list of all of the duties that an in-home health care professional will need to provide so you can narrow down the list of candidates early on. If you are hiring through an agency, give them as much information from the start so they can match you up with someone who possesses all of knowledge and capabilities to give the best care possible to your loved one.
If your home health care worker will be assisting with bathing or dressing, it is important to discuss this with your loved one to make sure that they are comfortable with the gender of the companion. Women or men may become embarrassed when opposite gendered health care workers assist them with personal care and this may cause bath time to become stressful.

2. Speak With Local Experts
Before you go to the yellow pages or check out the classifieds for home heath aids, speak with neighbors, doctors, and elder care providers locally who can give you some recommendations and advice. Find out where other families have found in-home help and have them tell you about their experience. An administrator at a local nursing home may also have some suggestions for you on where to locate the best care giver. Support groups are a wealth of information, as well.

3. Create a Job Description
When you are ready to begin speaking with applicants and conducting interviews, start by writing a job description. The job duties can serve as talking points for your interview and also give the applicants a clear picture of what will be required of them.

4. Prepare Interview Questions
If you are not experienced at conducting formal interviews, you will benefit greatly by having a prepared list of questions. It will help you stay in control of the interview, not miss any key points, and make the best use of your time. Write it all down.

5. Outline an Employment Contract
Even if the person you select comes highly recommended and you and your family really hit it off with them, make sure to remain professional. This includes having them sign a contract that outlines your expectations, their duties, as well as boundaries. You can then refer back to the contract should a situation arise in the future. Often Home Health Agencies prepare the contracts themselves. Be sure to read them carefully and add anything that you wish to be included.

6. Personally Screen Candidates
Since the person you hire will be spending time alone with your parent or loved one, it is essential that you approve them yourself. Having an agency just send someone over is not acceptable in this situation. Even if they can paint a picture of a candidate's qualifications, because the job of health care provider is so intimate, personality is equally as important. If your loved one is able to participate in the interview, that is ideal. Regardless, they should spend some time together to make sure that they click.

7. Conduct a Background Check
Do not trust your intuition. When you think that you have found the person you want to hire, do conduct a background check to make sure that the person you hire does not have a questionable past.

8. Check References
Even if this is their first job in the field of health care, every applicant should be able to provide references. Ideally, these should come from past employers. Otherwise, professors, internship supervisors, and personal references can also be used.

9. Protect Your Home and Family
Since the health care provider you hire will most likely have free access to your home, possessions, and family members, find out if they are bonded. It they are not bonded themselves, find out if the agency that you hired them from is. Remember not to leave credit cards, checkbooks and personal papers in unsecured areas.

10. Stay Involved
Your job is not over once the contract is signed and employment has begun. The more of a presence you have in your loved one's life the better. Even if you can not be there in person, scheduling telephone meetings can let the health care provider know that you are involved and on top of things. Ask for progress reports and find out if there are any difficulties. Since the health care provider is around your loved one the most, they can give you the best information about their physical health as well as their state of mind.

One way to stay involved is to use a caregiver's organizer (which we just happen to offer on our website). The Caregiver's Companion is an organizational tool that has sections for personal information, family history, medications and side effects, medical appointments, and home health care workers notes. I hate selling, but this IS a very good tool in my opinion.

10 Tips For Choosing the Perfect In-Home Health Care Agency

Shelley Webb has been a registered nurse for almost 30 years, with experience in the fields of neonatal intensive care, dialysis, case management and elder care. When her father came to live with her in 2005, the advantages of her medical experience became clear. Due to his dementia and congestive heart failure, her father was not able to care for himself alone any longer and so she took over these duties.

Having experienced the helplessness, frustration, overwhelm and even loneliness that care giving for an aging parent brings, Shelley is well aware of the emotional and educational support that caregivers need and so she began The Intentional Caregiver web site. With its weekly newsletter, daily news updates and monthly audio interviews of experts in elder care and supporting services, Shelley strives to encourage and educate caregivers so that they can be empowered to provide the best possible care for themselves while caring for their aging loved one(s).

Please see: http://www.IntentionalCaregiver.com

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