Advocacy

Lupus and Fluorescent Light: Energy Saver CFL Bulbs Emit Ultraviolet light

San Jose Care Resource Guide: In an politically correct era when women are sometimes asked  not to wear perfume to an event, because of  concerns of allergic and other reactions, there is a very real dilemma.

Hidden Costs Of Energy Saving: the everpresent single enveloppe CFL Bulb

San Jose Care Resource Guide: Here is a link to a story by a Lupus patient   published in the spokesman.In a Nutshell:  lupus patients can react negatively to the Ultra Violet (UV) light that is generated by Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. and those bulbs are becoming the norm…

San Jose Care Resource Guide: This is comfirmed by this FDA  link, see the paragraph: ”..How close can we safely get to an operating CFL?..”  This FDA note is actually well done with some numbers to work with. Not all CFL emit the same UV amounts some are safer…

Read on the FDA note:     ”… As a precaution, it is recommended that these types [single envelop]  of CFLs not be used at distances closer than 1 foot, for more than one hour per day….

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With Medicaid waiver, California dives into health care reform (stateline)

SJCRG: Even though the legality of the federal health care law is disputed and challenged, states with a democratic bend and a big deficit are implementing it . The main such enthusiast is of course, California. Follow this link to see this article in the  ”stateline” site  

But if you dig under the “ra ra” tone, you can find those excerpted facts:

•  California will begin categorizing adult health care eligibility and benefits along the lines the federal health care law envisions but does not require until 2014
• “…To cut costs, California will transition seniors and adults with disabilities into a managed care program and test more efficient health care models for children with severe medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and spina bifida…”
• “…expand benefits for the nearly 200,000 adults….,gradually moving them up to full Medicaid….”

As we have showed in previous posts, Democare is about lifting money from the benefits of the senior and disabled, in order to enroll pet constituencies.

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Health Care Law Should Help With Jail Inmate Treatment (thecrimereport)

SJCRG: Very much in line with what we were posting about Democare’s priorities. Here is a link to the crimereport. So why it is becoming much more apparent that more hardship is coming in the middle class seniors’ way:

• Medicare Advantage programs are being ruthlessly trimmed, link to our post
• Doctors Medicare repayment is being delayed and cut, link to  (rrstar)

 Under the radical team Obama/Pelosi, money is  lifted from the US mainstream, and poured into their ideological pets: anybody,criminals included,  but the US middleclass !

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Seniors Need To Check Options As Medicare Advantage Plans Change, Drop Out (KHN)

SJCRG:   Obamacare’s havoc on senior citizens: Not just a concern anymore…

Link to Kaiser Health News (KHN) about the turmoil in Medicare Advantage

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Using the internet for health information (KevinMD)

SJCRG:Since we are in the business of care  and health  information, you can imagine that we wanted to see what Lisa Gualtieri, PhD, ScM had to sayon this topic  in the KevinMD blog. In a nutshell, Lisa interviewed two sisters Diana Cole and Carolyn Kingston about there use of the internet as a source of medical consumer information (out with the “patient” terminology, in comes the medical consumer..). The interview posted was with Carolyn.

Interview Bottom line:

• My health-related searches on the internet are usually very targeted, and directed toward answering a specific question rather than broad, generalized browsing.
• Did you talk to your doctor about your internet searches? No
  • SJCRG: People are still concerned about really discussing specifics of their treatments/surgery with their Doctors. Checking over their shoulder is OK, though. Truly some doctors might take umbrage, then again, some will not. Maybe that should be part of your criteria when choosing a doctor…

Keep in mind this is one person’s interview, but sounds pretty representative though.

Comments?

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Caregivers of Veterans Face Greater Stress, More Years of Care Than the National Average (marketwatch)

San Jose Care Resource Guide: Caregivers come from many backgrounds and caregivers of veterans care for doubly stressed individuals: the stress of having been through war, and the stress of coming out wounded.  This article in MarketWatch is noteworthy, as is describes their struggle and gives some links to support organizations

Here is a photo from ArmyTimes  that tells it all:

Wounded Veteran and Caregiver (ArmyTimes)

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OTC Medicines Cut From 2011 Flexible Spending Accounts (KHN)

SJCRG:  Kaiser Health News  put up these not so good news: Another hidden cost of Obamare?

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Comments to “Medicare Improves Access To Preventive Services For 2011 (medilexicon)”

SJCRG: Preventive services. Sounds wondeful, but let us think for a minute. The healthcare pie is shrinking, so where is the money for preventative services coming from? You guessed it from healthcare services to the currently ill/disabled!

Proofs?  

• Our nov 7 ,2010 post on wheelchair funding
• Physicians pay cut, i.e. less services ( AMA)
• SJCRG: Even more pressing question: Do preventive services prevent?
  • Here is a link to an article by Joseph W. Stubbs, Fellow of the American Colledge of Physician. Quoting: “…Too often our patients extract a psychological reassurance from screening tests that is not grounded in reality…”

Bottom line: Are  prevention programs  genuine medical toosl, or “feel good social engineering”?  Truth is probably in between. But to rob the diagnosed  ill’s funds and give it to prevention with often questionable effectivess?

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Health Advocates, The Care Resource Guide, and the Healthcare System (AHRQ)

Care Resource Guide: AHRQ (Agency For Health Care Quality) Director Carolyn Clancy, M.D, has written a column recommending that patients arm themselves  with a health care advocate.

What does a  Health Care Advocate do?

Quoting her: “…A health advocate is a family member, friend, trusted coworker, or a hired professional who can ask questions, write down information, and speak up for you so you can better understand your illness and get the care and resources you need…”

Care Resource Guide: Well, guess what..This is precisely what we are trying to accomplish at the Care Resource Guide.  While we cannot accompany you to the doctor, we can provide background helping you understand your options, and inform you so you can better formulate your questions to the health professionals….

Please contact us through the “Contact Us”  form for providing with Health Advocacy on your health issues!

Remember we do not give medical advice.  Rather, we provide you with research background on your health issue to empower you in your discussions  with your health practitioner or care manager.

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More than half of Americans looked up health information on the Internet last year (Reuters)

CareResourceGuide: Ok, folks we are in good company: The need for internet health information is clear! See the link to Reuters This need is the confluence of two trends:

1. So many people have access to the internet
2. We all trust our doctors, but…..
3. Health care’s attempt at cost control has many wondering: Are really getting what is best for us as individuals, or what is best for the system?

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