Medical Records Checkup - How To Keep Your Personal Medical Files Under Control

By Barbara Hemphill

Quick. In five seconds or less can you recall the exact date and time of your last doctor's visit? Could you remember when your next prescription refill is due? If one of your children or your spouse was suddenly rushed to the hospital, could you quickly gather all the necessary health insurance papers and relevant medical records?
If you answered no to any of the above questions, you're not alone. Of all the records we keep in our home filing cabinet, few are as important as our medical records. Not only do they inform our doctors of any special care we require, but they also help us stay up- to-date on our medical progress and help us plan for future medical needs. In the event of a medical emergency, the more organized you are before the crisis, the better your chances for coming through the event with the least number of complications.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of storing personal medical records is the sheer amount of paperwork itself. After all, every doctor's visit, every pharmacy prescription, and every insurance payment generates at least one to two sheets of paper. For example, one 30-minute doctor's visit alone could easily result in five or more pieces of paper--diagnosis information, doctor's bill, prescription and drug info sheet, health insurance authorization and insurance statement. With so many papers to keep track of, it's no wonder many people give up and just toss it all into a "to do" pile.
However, when it comes to medical information, there are four main categories of paperwork you need to retain: 1) prescription information, 2) general health information, 3) specific medical condition information for each family member, and 4) health insurance information. Look through all the medical records you currently have stored and divide the papers into these four categories.
For prescription information, keep a record of the drug name and dosage amount for each prescription. Also keep note of refill dates and the number of refills remaining. File any drug info sheet your pharmacist gives you, as these may help you quickly identify any drug interactions or dangerous side effects.
General health information may include articles you've read about lowering cholesterol, losing weight, or any other topic of interest to you. This information does not need to relate to any specific person or ailment. In contrast, specific medical condition information for each family member should include everything related to a particular disease or ailment someone has. Keep a separate file for each condition and each family member so nothing gets confused.
When organizing your health insurance information, keep a record of every payment and authorization. Also make sure you have the most updated listing of what services are covered and which doctors participate in your health plan. Having accurate insurance information could save you both money and time in the long run.
Filing System for Organizing Medical Claim Info:
1. Insurance Policy Guidelines for Primary Policy
2. Claims to be submitted to Primary Policy Holder
3. Claims submitted, but not paid by Primary Policy Holder
4. Insurance Policy Guidelines for Supplemental Policy
5. Claims to be submitted to Supplemental Policy Holder
6. Claims submitted to Supplemental Policy Holder, but not paid
7. Claims paid
Your Paper Prescription In the past, there were only four things you could do with all this paper: toss it, stack it, file it the traditional way, or convert it to electronic form using a scanner. Now a fifth option is available--a software program that allows you to keep your information in paper form in your filing cabinet. The incredible search power of the computer enables you to find anything you want in five seconds or less.
This software, Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger(www.thepapertiger.com) published by Monticello Enterprises of Sunnyvale, CA, and based on the book Taming the Paper Tiger, utilizes one simple principle: Clutter is Postponed Decisions®. These days, too few people are deciding whether to keep something, where to keep it, how long to keep it, or how to find it. As a result, it sits and sits and sits, until it get buried beneath some new pile.
But consider this. There are only three things you can do with any piece of paper: 1)File it for future reference; 2) Act on it; or 3) Toss it. The Paper Tiger calls it The FAT System(TM). A major premise of the program is a series of questions called, "The Art of Wastebasketry?." The most important question is, "What is the worst possible thing that would happen if I didn't have this information?" If you can live with the answer, toss it. Additionally, research shows that 80% of what we keep we never use, but frequently we aren't willing to take that risk. At that point, whether you plan to take action on the item or simply put it away in case you need it in the future, a good filing system is the best alternative to stacks of paper that often turn into outdated and unused clutter.
So before you make another doctor's appointment, make sure your medical information is the most current and easy to retrieve. By creating an effective filing system today you'll enable yourself to stay better informed about your health matters. You'll also be better prepared for doctor's visits and any medical emergencies, should they occur. Most important, you'll be able to approach each day with less stress, knowing you can find what you need exactly when you need it.

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com

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How to Protect Yourself From Medical Identity Theft - The Crime That Kills

By Miriam Bobroff

According to the American Health Information Management Association, medical identity theft accounts for 3% of identity theft crimes. The NY Times reports that 250,000 people a year who have their identities stolen are medical identity theft cases.
Medical Identity Theft affects individuals, healthcare providers, and health plans.
1. For the individual, it leads to a trail of false medical records and can plague your medical and financial life for many years. The elderly, newborns, minors, people whose medical information are on public registries (e.g. cancer registry) and individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities are particularly at risk for medical identity theft. Dead people are often targeted too.
2. A health care provider who incorrectly bills the victim for treatment provided to the identity thief may have to write off all the expenses related to the thief as he has trouble canceling health insurance claims that were made for the thief. His reputation can be damaged and his practice negatively affected.
3. The reputation of the health plan can be damaged too as they pre-approved and paid for the thief's treatment which is applied to your annual or lifetime benefit allowance. They also store wrong medical information in its database and share it with the Medical Information Bureau.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: What happens when a medical identity thief uses my name, social security number, and medical insurance information to get medical services from doctors, emergency rooms, hospitals, and pharmacies?
Answer: A false medical record is created in your name.
Question: How does that affect me?
Answer: In an emergency, you could be treated based on the wrong information and DIE as the new record contains the thief's blood type, allergies, prescription drug use, and a history of his diseases.
Question: How can I find out if my medical identity has been stolen?
Answer: It is usually very difficult to discover that you are a victim of medical identity theft as it is often hidden in complex payment systems, databases, and medical records.
Question: When I find out that I have been a victim, how can I fix it?
Answer: It is even more difficult to correct. Under the federal law known as Hipaa (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) you are entitled to a copy of your medical records. However, once your information is mixed in with the thief's information, you may have trouble getting your files as privacy laws regulate that the thief's medical information, now in your records, must also be kept confidential.
Question: What can I do to correct my record?
Answer: Ten Steps to Get Your Medical Records Corrected
o Contact the health information manager, privacy officer, or anti-fraud hotline at the provider organization or health plan where the medical identity theft occurred.
o Request a copy of your medical records. If the provider organization or health plan refuses to give you access to your records, file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights or Health and Human Services at (866) 627-7748.
o Work with the organization where the medical identity theft occurred to stop the flow of incorrect information and correct the existing inaccurate health record entries.
o File a police report.
o File a complaint with the attorney general in the state where the medical identity theft occurred.
o Check with state authorities for resources.
o File a complaint with the Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse operated by the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
o Contact the Department of Health and Human Service for Medicare or Medicaid fraud (800) 368-1019.
o Review health records to make sure they have been corrected prior to seeking healthcare.
o Change all personal identification numbers and passwords.
Once your medical identity has been stolen, your life becomes a nightmare as it is a life and death issue. All your energy is consumed with getting it back and it can take years. If you want to correct your record, you have to do it on a case-by-case basis as the wrong information may be in dozens of health care providers and insurance plan records. Until such time as all your records are corrected, you could be denied additional health, disability, or life insurance and your credit record could be permanently damaged.
I want to share with you the way I protect my medical identity and what kind of help I would get if my medical identity were stolen. I just love the Identity Protection Service I have as it monitors my social security number and medical insurance information every day for medical fraud, insurance and criminal records.
Check List to Determine whether an Identity Protection Service would be good for you:
o Would you like a service that protects your medical identity so it cannot be stolen?
o Would you like a service that monitors your social security number and medical insurance information every day so you would know right away if a thief has stolen your medical identity?
o Would you like your entire family to be protected, including your children to age 25 and senior dependents?
o Would you like to have an Expense Reimbursement Insurance Policy?
o Would you like to fully recover your identity by having a professional team of paralegals call the agencies, do the paper work, and cooperate with the police to help find the thief.
o Would you being willing to pay a small monthly fee to have a team of experts help take the stress out of your life?
It is my pleasure to share with you a safe and secure way to live without stress and fear of having your medical identity stolen.

I am Miriam Bobroff, President and CEO of Bubby's Business, Inc. an international marketing and distribution company that offers education and cutting edge solutions to the problem of Cybercrime. I have always helped people to improve the quality of their lives and I now include an Identity Protection Service into my business that helps people fight the war against Medical Identity Theft and fully recover their medical identity.
For more information, log onto [http://www.crimeandjustice4all.com] and [http://www.2protectyouridentity.com] You can reach me at 888-809-3798 or email me at crimeandjustice4all@gmail.com.

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

Looking for a Qualified Medical Billing Specialist

By Joe Miller

Families, mothers, employers, and medical practices all interact in one way or another with a medical billing specialist. When medical billing is required, a qualified medical billing specialist can help you process your claim quickly and thoroughly. Medical billing specialists work in many different areas. A variety of tasks require a medical billing specialist to be familiar with medical transcription, medical codes, and electronic medical records (EMR).
This article not only explains the types of information a medical billing specialist should be familiar with but also the types of information that families, mothers, employers, and medical practices should be familiar with.
Medical Transcription
Medical transcription is the method of transferring medical information, such as diagnosis or interviews, from an audio format to a paper format or an electronic format. SOAP notes are recorded with a transcription machine before it is transferred to an electronic format. It becomes part of an electronic medical record or EMR.
A medical transcription job is often sent to a medical transcription company or processed with a medical transcription program. Medical transcription articles provide more information on the process of medical transcription as well as electronic medical records.
Medical Codes
Qualified medical billing specialists are also familiar with various medical codes, governing record-keeping, billing, and certification. CPT codes, HIPAA certification, ICD.9 codes, HCFA 1500 formats, etc. are just some of the important standards by which a qualified medical billing specialist performs his or her work. Other diagnosis codes and claim processing codes also play a continual role in medical billing, and a medical billing specialist should be aware of how they function.
Electronic Medical Records
An EMR, or electronic medical record, is a convenient way to process medical records in today's business world. Databases are full of EMRs comprised of SOAP notes, billing information, medical history, and other relevant information. Electronic medical records must be carefully managed, backed up, and stored. They must also be kept secure.
Medical Practice Software
Medical practice software has helped to simplify the medical billing process, allowing a streamlined database of EMRs along with access to medical codes. Medical practices are beginning to adopt this type of software in order to cut their IT costs and set up fees and adopt a month by month cost on a secured system. Information may then be accessed from any computer or PDA by authorized individuals. Medical billing specialists are trained in software programs such as these.

Joe Miller is an author of informational articles and online advertisements [http://www.10xmarketing.com/Services/Advertising/Online-Advertising.html] on health and medical software. Medical billing specialist [http://www.advancedmd.com/features/medicaid-billing.asp] information is available at AdvancedMD.com.

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General Medical Information About the Clinical Significance of Pneumonia

By Funom Makama

Inflammation of the lung is called Pneumonia. Pneumonias may be caused by specific pathogens like Pneumococcus or Klebsiella or by mixed flora which reach the lungs due to aspiration of infected material from the upper respiratory passages, stomach or exterior. The latter group is called aspiration pneumonia. Pneumococcal pneumonia is the commonest type in adults.
Other Organisms causing Pneumonia
Staphylococcal Pneumonia
This is more frequently seen in debilitated subjects and in hospitalized patients. Respiratory viral infections predispose to staphylococcal pneumonia. This is a dreaded complication in children with cystic fibrosis and in patients receiving immunosuppressant therapy. The organisms reach the lung through the blood stream (Pyemia) or along the respiratory passages.
Clinical features: The onset is with mild symptoms, but soon the condition worsens to produce grave toxemia, purulent and blood stained sputum and cyanosis. The lesions are generally multiple, giving rise to thin-walled abscesses. It may frequently spread to the pleura to produce emphysema or pyo-pneumothorax. Signs of lobar consolidation may not be evident. Diagnosis should be suspected from the clinical setting and the presence of toxemia fat out of proportion to the pulmonary signs. Gram-staining of sputum and culture reveal the organisms. Mortality varies from 20-25%.
Treatment: At present most strains of hospitalized-acquired staphylococci produce penicillinase. Hence penicillinase-resistant drugs such as Cephalothin, cloxacillin or vancomycin may be necessary. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment ensures cure.
Klebsiella Pneumonia (Friedlander's Pneumonia)
This is a grave illness seen in patients above the age of 40 years. Debilitating diseases, alcoholism, and malnutrition predispose this condition. Common site of involvement is the posterior segment of the upper lobe. The condition sets in with sudden chills, rigors, fever, dyspnea and cough with gelationous thick sputum streaked with blood. The course may be subacuate or fulminant and fatal. Abscess formation is a common complication. Mortality is high, ranging around 30%.
Treatment
Once the condition is suspected, urgent treatment with Cephalexin 1g, 6h, intramuscular administration should be started. Gentamicin in a dose of 5-8mg/Kg may be added as a second antibiotic. Treatment may have to be continued for 2 weeks or more to ensure cure.
Mycoplasma Pneumonia (Primary atypical pneumonia, Eaton agent Pneumonia, Cold- agglutinin-positive Penumonia)
This is caused by Mycoplasma Pneumoniae which is a bacterium devoid of cell wall. It spreads in closed communities and in families through the respiratory secretions. Clinically, it may present as
• Tracheobronchitis or
• Pneumonia (in 30%).
The disease starts insidiously with lassitude, headache, myalgia, and chest pain. Expectoration is scanty. Hemoptysis may occur. Physical examination of the chest may reveal only minimal findings. The Skiagram shows extensive lesions, not made out clinically. Over 50% of patients develop cold agglutinins in their serum in a dilution of 1:32 or more by the second week. These nonspecific antibodies agglutinate human 0 group erythrocytes at 4 degrees. These antibodies may be present for long periods. Complement fixation tests help in demonstrating specific antibodies. Tetracycline and erythromycin are effective against this organism.
Aspiration Pneumonia (Nonspecific Pneumonia)
Infective material may be aspirated into the trachea and bronchi.
Causes predisposing to aspiration
1. Conditions which suppress the cough reflexes, eg, coma, alcoholic intoxication, general anaesthesia.
2. Spillover of pus or gastric contents into the respiratory tract, eg, sinusitis, tonsillitis, achalasia cardia, pharyngeal paralysis, tracheo-oesophageal fistula.
3. Violent contraction of abdominal muscles forcing gastric contents into the respiratory tract eg, epilepsy, tetanus.
4. Aspiration from outside, eg, drowning.
Microbial flora is mixed, depending on the source of infection. The pulmonary lesion may be a localized massive pneumonia or a bronchopneumonia.
Clinical features: Aspiration of large volumes presents as pulmonary collapse or as pneumonia. In the presence of any of the predisposing factors, aspiration pneumonia should be suspected. Right lower lobe is more often affected because of the disposition of its bronchus. The upper lobe is also not infrequently involved in alcoholics and comatose subjects. If the obstruction is not removed by coughing or by other means the consolidation tends to persist and proceed to lung abscess. So also, aspiration pneumonia tends to recur if the primary cause is not removed.
Treatment: The general principles of treatment of Pneumonia are applicable. In addition, prompt attention should be given to clear the respiratory passages of obstructing material. This can be achieved by postural drainage, physiotherapy to the chest to encourage coughing, suction using a mechanical sucker, or by bronchoscopic aspiration.

I laugh so hard whenever I get spam mails of scammers earning 3digit/4digit/5digit figures just like that for free. There is no way you can earn such amount in a short period of time through the internet just like that. For such a thing to happen, you need hardwork, determination, consistency and microscopic observations. And one of the ways you can apply all these factors in order to achieve great success is through Article networking. You need not buy any e-book to learn and it is not a system of making money, rather a strategy of hard work/good work put together to yield maximum success. For more information about this new strategy (Article Networking) go to the link below:
http://hubpages.com/hub/A-very-Unique-and-Unknown-strategy-to-make-money-through-article-networking
Good luck.

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

Health Information at Your Fingertips

By Diana Valentine

We all are familiar with the saying, "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away." But no matter how many apples you eat, bottom line is you cannot run away from ailments. If you are born healthy without any defect of design then God almighty has been incredibly kind to you.
Else if you are born with a problem or flaw then life gets quite challenging henceforth. This is when health information works as gospel to us.
It's not that if you have all the health information in your bag then you become a superman, but it's important because it can keep you away from health problems or will guide you to the best possible cure, as much as possible.
Having the latest health information not only enlightens us towards the latest cure, but also teaches us the 123's of proper health care and health information that can prevent us from illnesses.
No matter what is the case, everyone should go for a thorough physical check up at least once a year, just to know how your body feels, it's exactly like our car servicing that we never forget to oblige. And as we all know human body is the most sophisticated machine we can ever think of, so undoubtedly it requires more care than a man made machine, by having proper health information.
Because if the car fails to work, it could be replaced but the human body cannot be. Doctors, websites, government health agencies sometimes have free health information and check up just to make sure we are aware of the changing health scenario.
Many big non-profits like Family Care International, Global Health Council, UNICEF, and Action Against Hunger have health care programs, which serve different sections of the society.
You do not have to be a doctor to spread health information amongst people. If every single person in this society vows to catch up with the latest health information and spread it, then we can save millions of people across the world.
Health information is the key to the growth of the society. Proper health and hygiene comes first in the development of a any class, community or nation. So many organizations and people across the world have dedicated themselves to the cause of health care and cure. So remember, it we take this one big step, it could lead to several other big steps and serve a whole class or community.
Someone has so rightly said "health is wealth."

To get more details on health information and the latest happenings in the world of medicine, health symptoms and treatment, visit our website at Medicues.

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ED Medication Information

By Dr Kevin Johnson

Its time to celebrate for Indian makes. Viagra has finally arrived! Oh well, you might say it arrived in India 5 years back but the truth is Viagra in India has been an enigma and it took quite a while before it became available to the masses. In the initial years Viagra was only available in select centers and the price was exorbitantly high. Until now people were content with the generic variants manufactured by other pharmaceutical giants like Sun Pharma and Cipla and to be fair they worked and worked well as they contained the same essential ingredient, sildenafil citrate. In any case the blue pill adds a touch of authenticity and the added health certificates attached and makes for a safer buy perhaps and is after all the most popular erectile dysfunction medication on the planet,.
But the price is a dampener and with many local variants available at much lower prices Viagra still does not have a sizable share of the market. But with time Pfizer hopes to conquer the Indian market and lets face it, with India's huge population, even a 10% market share will translate to huge benefits for the pharmaceutical giant.
Penile erection is a naturally occurring event, but the process occurs as a result of a series of events taking place in succession, disrupting any of the events results could result in erectile dysfunction. Factors like stress and somatic disorders like high cholesterol and diabetes can also cause ED and psychological factors cannot be ruled out. Viagra works like a charm and it saves plenty of men from humiliation. Contrary to what people think, Viagra is not a steroid, it improves blood circulation to the penis. It also does not raise blood pressure, in fact it lowers blood pressure a tad and hence patients with low blood pressure should use this sparingly and with caution.
Shyness is a major factor in people not willing to go forward and getting a Viagra prescription. Urologists are professionals and they don't judge their patients in any means other than treating the dysfunction, so open up. In case the patient is not willing to open up to a doctor he can consider getting generic variants of Viagra online. But don't let yourself untreated and suffer in silence. ED can affect relationships and confidence and no one must put of treatment.

For general information on Viagra you can visit Viagra in India [http://www.viagrainindia.com] and for related videos please visit Viagra India.

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Tips For Searching Health Information

By Janet Wan

When you are sick, it is usually a good idea to search for relevant health information online before you see your doctor. In this way, you can become prepared by knowing in advance both the related medical terminology and the questions that your doctor may ask during your office visit. Nevertheless, this is often a difficult task if you use traditional keyword-based search engines.
For instance, in order to have a rough idea which diseases you are having, both the presence and the absence of certain symptoms can provide important clues (e.g., whether sputum is accompanied by coughing). However, it is challenging to describe the absence of a symptom in a way that traditional keyword-based search engines can understand.
 
As another example, numerical values (e.g., duration of a symptom) are frequently needed to describe your health situation. Traditional keyword-based search engines cannot well handle numerical values, which creates another difficulty for you to find relevant health information.
 
When you encounter such difficulties, you can resort to a guided health search engine to find personalized health information via a few mouse clicks. Guided health search is a new concept in the search engine domain, with a simple search procedure that requires no keyword typing. You select your symptoms from a symptom list and answer a few questions. Then you obtain a list of potentially relevant diseases that the search engine found using its built-in medical knowledge. Each such disease has a link that you can click through to reach multiple Web pages describing this disease. By reading those Web pages, you can have a rough idea which diseases are likely to be related to your health situation as well as obtaining some basic knowledge on these diseases.
 
In case that you have many symptoms, it may not be wise to select all of them in the symptom list simultaneously. Otherwise the guided search engine cannot know which of these symptoms are the most important ones, may lose focus, and thus has to return to you a large number of diseases, many of which may be unrelated to your health situation. To maximize your speed in finding desired information, it is generally a good strategy to start with your chief complaint, i.e., the one or two symptoms that bother you the most. If you cannot find desired information using your chief complaint, you can continue to search using your other symptoms. At any time, you are advised to select no more than three symptoms in the symptom list simultaneously to keep your search focused.
 
Also, when you reach a disease in a search result page and have question on why this disease is related to your symptom, you can perform a search by inputting both this disease and your symptom as keywords into a traditional keyword-based search engine. This may help you find Web pages explaining the relationship between this disease and your symptom.

You can use the above tips to help you find personalized health information at GuidedMed [http://www.guidedmed.com/], the first guided health search engine on the Internet.

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Gout Information - How to Cure Gout

By Bryce Gardner

It's an estimate that as many as 6 million Americans suffer from gout, which means that there must be tens of millions of sufferers worldwide. The purpose of this article is to provide you with gout information, causes, symptoms, and treatment solutions.
What Is Gout?
Gout is an arthritic condition that occurs when uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints. The large joint of the big toe is usually affected, but gout can also affect other joints such as the knee, ankle, hand, foot, wrist, and elbow. In some rare cases, it may affect the shoulders, hips, and spine. More gout information...
Description Of Gout
Uric acid is a substance that usually forms when the body breaks down waste products. These products are called purines. The uric acid usually dissolves into the bloodstream, then passes through the kidneys into the urine. For people with gout, the uric acid level is so high that it forms uric acid crystals. These crystals end up in the joints and other tissues. When the tissue lining has enough of these crystal deposits it becomes inflamed, resulting in pain, redness, warmth and tenderness.
What Causes Gout
Gout information on an exact cause for gout is limited, but here are some things that lead to gout. A genetic defect in metabolism causes overproduction and retention of uric acid. A kidney impairment can prevent normal elimination of uric acid. Some diseases of the blood cells and blood-forming organs, and psoriasis can cause gout. Being overweight, abusing alcohol, and a diet that is rich in purine can also lead to gout. Here's some more information on gout...
Symptoms Of Gout
Gout will generally occur in 4 different stages (asymptomatic, acute, intercritical, and chronic stage). The asymptomatic stage is when urate levels rise in the blood, but there are no symptoms. The acute stage is when swelling will occur, joints will feel hot and tender. These symptoms usually last between 5-10 days. The intercritical stage is where a person will be free of symptoms between 6 months to 2 years. And the chronic stage is when someone has persistent pain in the affected joints. Other symptoms are stiff joints, and a limited motion of joints.
Gout Treatment
Gout can be relieved through a proper diet, healthy lifestyle, and medications. A proper diet is one that avoids or restricts foods that are high in purine. Drinking 10-12 glasses of non-alcoholic fluids is also recommended. A healthy lifestyle includes limiting alcoholic beverages and losing weight. Medications will vary depending on the individual. For proper gout information on medications, the person should consult their doctor. Here are common drugs used to relieve pain are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine, cortisosterioid drugs, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). These drugs are used to prevent future attacks: colchicine, probenecid, sulfinpyrazone, and allopurinol.

Did you know that you can cure gout permanently without doctors, drugs, or lifestyle changes? But only if you know how. Visit http://gouthelp4u.blogspot.com for more gout information and to read the guide that shows you how. You don't have to suffer with gout any longer if you act now. Click here to read the guide and get gout relief in just 2 hours.

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Travel Health: Useful medical information for good health before, during your trip and after

By John Caterring

The diseases most commonly seen in travellers are diarrhoea, malaria (if you travel in a malaria-infested area),
accidents (when travelling by car or swimming), wound infections and sexually transmitted diseases.
-- Diarrhoea is caused by contaminated food and drinking-water. You must therefore be careful if your are travelling in poor hygiene conditions.
-- Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes, so the first thing to do is to protect yourself against these mosquitoes.
-- In order to prevent accidents during travelling, it is wise to apply the same precautions as those taken at home.
In addition, it is very important that all wounds should be thoroughly disinfected in order to avoid infection.
· TRAVELLER'S DIARRHOEA
Many intestinal infections are attributable to infections picked up by mouth or hands. With a little care most of
these illnesses can be prevented. Hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio and cholera still occur in countries with poor
hygiene, but these diseases are easily prevented.
However, the chance is rather large that you will still contract a light and/or nondangerous form of traveller's diarrhoea.
Traveller's diarrhoea almost always spontaneously clears up after a few days, but can nevertheless be irritating.
And a risk to your overall and travel health.
In the first place measures must be taken against dehydration. Likewise, treatment of the symptoms must be considered
in order to reduce the number of bowel movements and relieve other symptoms such as fever, vomiting and stomach cramps.
Sometimes a more serious form of diarrhoea occurs, for which specific treatment with antibiotics is indicated or where
hospitalisation or fluid replacement appears unavoidable.
It takes only a few basic preventive measures to make your trip a success : Total prevention of traveller's diarrhoea is
impossible and it is obvious that preventive measures can seldom be strictly followed at all times.
But following preventive measures do significantly reduce the risk of contracting serious diarrhoea:
In order to maintain good travel health wash your hands before eating and avoid (if possible) :
-- raw vegetables and fruits that you have not peeled yourself
-- uncooked or unpasteurized dairy products
-- insufficiently cooked sea foods (+ Hepatitis A !) and meat
-- "local meals" which do not smell fresh
-- ice-cream bought from street merchants (industrial ice straight from the deep-freeze is probably safe).
Cooked meals should be served hot. The place where you eat is also important. A meal taken from a stall presents a
greater risk than a meal taken in a restaurant. Avoid restaurants where there are a lot of insects.
Avoid tap water and ice-cubes. Bottled water and soft drinks are safe. Watch out for bottle caps that have already been used.
It is very important to disinfect drinking-water on adventure trips. Total sterilisation of drinking water is impossible.
The following measures considerably reduce the contamination risk and safeguard your travel health:
-- Boiling the water is very effective.
-- A good alternative is chemical disinfection with chlorine drops (e.g. Hadex®, Drinkwell chloor®; available in sport shops
specialized in outdoor activities) or chlorine tablets (Certisil Combina®; chloramine tablets; available at the
pharmacy). Their effect can be improved by first filtering unclear water. Silver salts (Micropur®, Certisil Argento®) are
not very suitable to disinfect water, but they keep disinfected water germ-free for a long time.
For adventurous travellers conscious to travel health it is best to buy a portable water-filter. The use of antibiotics
in order to prevent diarrhoea before it occurs can be dangerous + Also the use of other preventive medications is not
recommended.
. How to treat diarrhoea?
It is extremely important to consume sufficient liquid and salt in order to prevent dehydration. You can do this by
taking salt solutions, but tea with lemon, broth, soft drinks and fruit juice, supplemented with salt crackers are tastier.
Commercial salt products are available on the market (ORS-solution).
Taking an anti-diarrhoea preparation (loperamide, e.g. Imodium®) can greatly reduce the number of bowel movements, with
a considerable reduction of the complaints as a result. Imodium® may only be used by adults and older children and only
for treating ordinary watery diarrhoea: 1 capsule after every loose movement up to a maximum of 4 per day.
Antibiotics are indicated :
1. If blood, mucus or pus are present in the stools.
2. If after 24 to 48 hours, there is no sign of improvement and the diarrhoea is accompanied by fever (above 38.5 C) or
severe abdominal cramps, or if there are more than six stools per 24 hours and especially when these also occur
at night.
3. Or if because of travel circumstances a quicker solution is absolutely desirable . Appropriate antibiotics are only
to be used on doctor's prescription
· SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Casual sexual contacts tend to be higher while on holiday abroad. Sexually transmitted diseases, particularly AIDS, form
therefore an important risk for travellers.
Quite often unintentional and unsafe sexual contact takes place under alcohol influence.
Prevention while on holiday abroad is no different from the precautions you take at home. Adequate use of a condom,
preferably bought at home, is absolutely essential. Only a water-soluble lubricant should be used, but it only offers
a partial guarantee (e.g. KY gel).
Vaccination against hepatitis B is advised. Always consult your doctor if you think you are at risk, even when there are
no symptoms.
· MALARIA (swamp fever, malaria)
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite (called Plasmodium) transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.
There are four different types of which Malaria falciparum is the most dangerous and the most widespread.
The incubation period - the time between an infecting bite and the appearance of the disease - varies from ten days to four
weeks (rarely several months).
The symptoms include attacks of fever, but can initially be quite similar to influenza.
If adequate treatment is not started in time, an attack may sometimes result in death within a few days.
. Where does malaria occur?
Malaria only occurs in those areas in which Anopheles mosquitoes are present : in the tropics and in a large number of
subtropical areas. From a height of 1.500 to 2.500 m onwards, depending on temperature and climate, Anopheles mosquitoes
are either rare or non-existent.
In most big cities there is little or no risk at all of infection, except in Africa where a real risk exists.
Risk also exists in the suburbs of the big cities in Asia (e.g. in India). In a number of areas the risk varies according
to the season.
. How can malaria be prevented?
It is very important for travel health to avoid mosquito bites : the Anopheles mosquito only bites between dusk and dawn,
is rather small and hardly makes any noise.
-- In the evening wear light-coloured clothing which covers your arms and legs as much as possible. Apply repellent cream
with a DEET basis (20 to 50%, for children and pregnant women preferably 20 to 30%) to the uncovered parts of your body.
Repeat this every four to six hours (it will not protect you all night).
Non containing DEET repellents were less examined; Autan-Active and Mosegor are however excellent safe products.
-- Sleep in rooms that leave no access to mosquitoes, (mosquito nets on the sills, electrically-warmed anti-mosquito plates,
air-conditioning) or sleep under a mosquito net impregnated with permethrine or deltamethrine hung over the bed with the
edges tucked under the mattress.
If these measures are carried out correctly, the risk of malaria will be reduced by 80 to 90% and travel health is maintained
. The intake of pills as prevention
There is no drug efficient enough to prevent malaria 100%, which means that quite often a combination of measures is
preferable. Also the drugs used have changed over the years.
Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of drugs should be considered against the risk of malaria infection.
These risks are dependent on the visited country, and on the region, the season, the duration of your stay and the kind
of trip.
Some people might be troubled by the side effects while taking antimalarial drugs. These are usually mild and are not
always a reason to stop taking the pills. Sometimes it may be necessary to change to another type of medication due to
intestinal problems, allergic reactions or other intolerance symptoms.
Therefore it is the doctor who can best decide for each individual which drug to use. This explains why individuals from
the same group may end up taking different drugs.
Finally, as no drug is 100% effective in preventing malaria, it is important that if an attack of fever occurs in the
first three months after your return from the tropics, a malaria infection should be considered as a possibility despite
the correct use of the drug prescribed.
However, it is reassuring to know that malaria, provided it is recognised in time, is easy to treat without any danger of
recurrent attacks. The belief that "once malaria always malaria" is totally untrue.
You can find even more travel health tips in the next pages:
DISEASES FOR WHICH VACCINATIONS ARE AVAILABLE
MORE TRAVEL HEALTH TIPS
CAUTION: The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or for the
treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for any and all medical conditions.
Call 911 for all medical emergencies.

Eddy De Vos is the owner of http://www.spain-holidays-advisor.com/, a website about travel and Spain. It contains usefull tips for your next trip, be it to Spain or anywhere else in the world. Of course if you are planning a trip to Spain there is no better place to start than Spain Holidays

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Blood Pressure Medication Information

By Rob Ganion

If you have high blood pressure then you are probably well aware of the risks that surround it. High blood pressure can lead to many heart diseases and problems. It is an issue that you will want to take care of as soon as you can.
There are many ways to go about lowering your blood pressure. Some things that can affect the level of your blood rate are what kinds of food you eat, and the amount of stress you experience. Caffeine that is commonly found in coffee and soda pop has a tendency to raise blood pressure as well.
Medication is something that can be used to lower your blood pressure. Even though you can use medication to lower your blood pressure it is advised that you may have to change some of your habits. You may have to drastically change your lifestyle as well.
If you are searching for medication that will lower your pressure, then you should probably go to your local doctor in order to get something prescribed.
If you are finding that your medication is not working to its potential or is simply not working at all then the common thing to do is increase the dosage. Try increasing the amount that you take each day and see if that is enough. It is always a good idea to consult your doctor before doing so though.
Each person is going to have different types of reaction to medication so you are probably going to get different results then someone else. Since many people react differently there are many different types of medication available.
One thing that many people do to reduce their pressure without taking any kind of medication at all is relaxing. Try taking time out of your day to just sit down and ease your mind. Studies have proven that high volumes of stress increase blood pressure and can increase heart attacks.
Try to practice remaining calm throughout your day and you could maybe fix your problem without spending any money on medication at all. There are many methods that work, you just need to find out what works for you.

For more information about high blood pressure, visit this site.

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Medical Training Information in the US

By Marc Willis

According to the author Marc McCutcheon in his book, 'Everyday Life in the 1800s', most medical students were learning the doctoring 'trade' through the apprentice system. That would mean that young men fifteen years of age or older would move in and live with established physicians and trade labor for education. The arrangement lasted anywhere from two to six years with some students then continuing on to a formal medical school for at least two to four more years of education and to obtain a degree. The majority of physicians at the beginning of the century, however, opened their practices without having obtained a degree. Five medical schools were in operation by 1810.
Another author, Michael Varhola, in his book, 'Everyday Life during the Civil War', makes the following interesting statements:
• That medical schools were common during the Civil War, but unfortunately, many of them provided little training.
• That in the 19th century, training for surgeons typically consisted of three, thirteen-week semesters of medical school. Some good medical schools did exist, mainly at established colleges and universities like Princeton and Yale. Programs at these schools lasted one or two years and consisted almost entirely of classroom instruction, with just a few weeks of medical residency. Training each year was identical. Some students did not bother to study a second year, although it was recommended. There is no mention of medical equipment.
Then there is Candy Moulton's book, 'Everyday Life in the Wild West - from 1840 to 1900' which states that there were some trained physicians in the West, but that much of the area relied on the knowledge and commonsense of individuals who had no formal training. They had learned by watching and doing. In the West a doctor was a doctor if he said so; whether or not he had had any training. California had a medical practice law in 1866 and Texas was the first state to establish a board of medical examiners in 1873. Western medical schools included the Medical Dept of the University of the Pacific founded in 1859, which became the Cooper School and ultimately, Stanford School of Medicine.
Doctors used to register with local county clerks before establishing a practice, but such regulations weren't uniformly enforced until late in the period. What used to happen in those days is that a doctor would settle down in an area, open an office - sometimes in a pharmacy or drug store - and hang up a sign or put an ad in the local paper. Doctors used to carry leather satchels or placed their medical supplies in saddlebags. After the Civil War their medical kits often were army surplus instruments in velvet-lined field cases.
Medical equipment during the Civil War was antiquated, and usually consisted of lancets which were boiled. According to a video on You Tube, there was no morphine and no chloroform and whiskey was sometimes used to clean wounds, or the patient would get a shot of whiskey when they amputated a leg. I don't know how true this, but I'm sure watching old westerns had a lot to do with it.

Read more about medical training. Visit http://www.medicalpulse.com

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Medical Resources - Looking For Relevant Information

By David Urmann

Medical resources are very important. You will never know when you will need it. It might change lives at the least expected moments. But these resources are expensive. They usually come in the form of thick books, like encyclopedias. And with the advanced medical research of today, it is very easy for these books to become outdated.
With expensive reference materials, people are hassled by going to public libraries to do their research. The medical students most especially are burdened with this problem. Some medical resources come out in the daily newspapers. There are also medicinal magazines that become sources for such publications. There are also announcements posted in the hospitals, clinics, schools and libraries.
But more recently, disseminating important information has been made much easier. They are all just now at your fingertips. Just go online, log in to the internet, and search for the medical resources needed. This is fast, easy, cheap and very convenient.
With internet technology, medical records can now be automated. All pertinent information is easily accessible. When updating information, it is easy to tweak on some information in the website and save the changes. This beats revising a whole book for updates and running them again for publication.
Medical resources online are plenty but may be scattered. Although everything is there, looking for relevant information might be similar to looking for a needle in a haystack - tedious and frustrating to nearly impossible. This should not be the case. Here are some helpful tips in finding whatever medical resources or information you need.
Know precisely what you are looking for and launch a keyword search. The more specific you are the better results you will get. If possible, localize your search. Especially if you require some services or might need to come in for more information, you would need to find something within your specific geographic area.
Doing your research is just half the story. Always seek to confirm facts, verify information and seek clarification when necessary. Asking a lot of questions is a good thing. For one, if your source is able to respond to your queries satisfactorily, that makes them credible. As someone needing information, reliable sources help you make sound, well-informed choices regarding matters relating to your personal or a family member's well-being.
Evaluate the information you obtain. Just because you have read something does not mean it is necessarily the correct information. Compare it to what other websites say also. Discuss it with your friends or others expert in the field.
Seek second opinion. It can help prove or dispel doubts, or clarify issues. Whether as confirmatory medical opinion or a second positive endorsement for a brand or line of product or equipment, other people's experiences or feedback give you a ballpark of what awaits you at the end of an information line.
Most sites have a feedback portion. You can use it to email the people concerned and ask your questions for any clarifications you need. After all, we are dealing with medical issues here, and any misinformation may be costly in more ways than you can imagine.
Compare prices when shopping for medical supplies and equipment. Check doctor's information, background and credentials when seeking expert opinion or advice. After all, not all information presented to you are correct and reliable.

For more information on San Francisco, California Doctors and Free Medical Ebooks please visit our website.

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Medical Information - A Great Source For Articles

By Mark A. Abrahams

One of the things that people are looking for when they are looking for articles is medical information.  People are always afraid when they have a new diagnosis and they are facing the unknown, so knowing that other people have gone through what they are going through gives them hope. Here are some suggestions for writing medical articles.
Surgeries
If you have had a surgery, it always helps to write about your own experiences with that particular surgery.  Make sure that you write things that you felt, experienced, and what your feelings were.
Illnesses
Another thing that really helps people is knowing how people are dealing with illnesses.  Cancer, diabetes, or other illnesses are types of illnesses that people like to read stories about.  What helped, what didn't help, stories of people overcoming their illnesses and letting people know that they aren't alone.
Natural remedies
The last thing that people like to read about are natural remedies that people are using to help their health.  They want to know what works, what doesn't work, and they use them to help them decide what to try for themselves.
Medical articles are something that a lot of people find to be a good resource both for readers and for writers. There are always going to be a market for them and there are always going to be new illnesses to explore.  People like to read articles about medical breakthroughs and treatments that people are experiencing and have experienced. They are things that give them hope for their own future.

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Finding Out Medical Information Online

By Salli Gustafsson

The internet has made learning all sorts of information about illness and health quite easy. Learning about certain heath symptoms and treatments has become easier than ever before in fact. The following article will present a number of advantages that people have now than in the past for researching health problems and treating them, over the past when we did not have tools of research like the internet to help look into health concerns.
1. Ease of access: Just about anyone can access WebMD or an online encyclopedia and quickly access medical information. To find out this information or to find information about prescriptions or the ingredients in many medicines a person would have to consult a pharmacist or physician directly for information. Now through even a simple search online a person is able to find any medical information
they need on many illnesses, ranging from the common cold to cancer.
2. Preparedness: Quite often when a person would enter a doctor's office before the internet, there would be no indication based on their symptoms what they may have. By doing a bit of research ahead of time a person can identify symptoms which may correlate or are worth mentioning to a physician so that they can receive a better diagnosis of their symptoms and begin to feel better faster.
3. Better coverage: With so many outlets to help people with illnesses online and with all of the information present, it is able to help people care for themselves and others better. By identifying a number of online support groups a person can find common ground with other people who are going through the same difficulties with their illness. Cancer support groups have been known to help patients in all stages of the disease to fight and find comfort in others who are in the same predicament. By looking into treatments a person could identify some home remedies which they may not have known about for controlling their symptoms. With such vast databases of collective knowledge our good health can only dramatically improve and people will be better assured to live healthier lives by doing the proper research on their illness.
4. Better doctors: Quick referencing for doctors and the ability to quickly connect to other physicians worldwide has lead to great advancements in medicine. Surgeons can even perform operations via remote controlled robots over the internet. By using the internet to connect and quickly reference medical knowledge online, doctors can conference and decide the best treatments to quickly manage the symptoms of an illness, leading to better medicine and healthier populations.
5. Disease coverage: When epidemics of virus and disease are happening keeping people informed is absolutely crucial. During the H1N1 virus for instance there were thousands of articles and information outlets online that were keeping people informed as to the spread of the disease and any information they needed to know about how to cope with it. The internet is one of the top media outlets these days and can be accessed just about anywhere thanks to wifi and mobile browsing. Keeping people informed about major health concerns is now better accomplished through the internet.
As you can see the internet has changed healthcare and information surrounding personal health significantly, by using this vast and capable resource, physicians and patients are becoming more educated and connected, resulting in superior health and longer lives.

Search information on illness, diseases, health News, ask other people, share your experience and read what others have to say or Connect with other users suffering from similar conditions. http://www.illnesslife.com

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Signs, Symptoms, and Medical Information on Potassium Permanganate Intoxication

By Jo Alelsto

It is widespread practice that potassium permanganate is used for several medicinal applications such as foot soak for athlete's foot and a warm bath for eczema. It is also used as a disinfectant, deodorant and astringent alongside being an effective bactericide and fungicide.
Potassium permanganate has strong oxidizing properties which make it ideal for applications in treating certain medical conditions especially those which involve the skin.
This chemical is not identified as a carcinogen or a reproductive toxin but it is classified as highly toxic. In its pure form, it occurs as a deep purplish to blackish crystals or granules. It is highly hazardous in this form and proper dilution with the exact amount of water is very important.
Although reports of potassium permanganate poisoning is quite uncommon, there is still the real possibility that such an incident will happen particularly when people are not aware of the hazards, the signs and symptoms of poisoning as well as first aid measures.
How does potassium permanganate poisoning happen?
There are basically four routes for poisoning: inhalation, skin, eyes and ingestion.
Children are predominantly in danger of poisoning and this happen for two reasons: carelessness of adults and the natural tendency of children to put anything (may it be solid, liquid or in any other form) straight to their mouth. This is compounded by the fact that potassium permanganate in its pure form can be readily mistaken for sweets. When dissolved, it results to a rather attractive pink to purple liquid, something a youngster can't resist and the inevitable happens.
However, poisoning is not limited to the young ones. Adults can also suffer from poisoning especially those who are occupationally exposed to the chemical. In a medical report, one 66-year old man was orally taking a solution of 8% potassium permanganate for four weeks and neurological examinations reveal that there have been disorders in several subsystems of the central nervous system.
What are the signs and symptoms of potassium permanganate poisoning?
This chemical can be a concern especially when not prepared properly for medication purposes - it can do more harm than good. It is typically used for topical antibacterial applications and water purification. The nature and severity of the symptoms depends on the amounts and the means of exposure to the chemical.
Symptoms include a burning sensation and redness of the skin, eye and/or skin irritation, cough, shortness of breath and labored breathing, sore throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and may even cause shock.
Always prepare your potassium permanganate solution as advised by your doctor or per label instructions. It becomes an irritant at concentrations of 1:1,000 or higher and can be fatal when taken in its pure form and at very high concentrations.10 - 20 grams of unadulterated potassium permanganate is a sufficient amount to kill a person.
What are the other important medical information on potassium permanganate?
In the 1930's and during World War II, it was a popular abortifacient or a drug which induces abortion. Women introduce crystal or granules into the vagina and being an irritant, potassium permanganate irritates the uterus and may stimulate it to get rid of the unborn fetus.
However, it is also used as a stomach wash due to its strong oxidative ability and administered to people who suffered from poisoning such as one caused by overdose of opium. Unfortunately, the same chemical used to reduce the effects of poisoning can also be a poison itself. More so when people do not know how to prepare it and are not informed of its high toxicity.
Keep in mind that although potassium permanganate is a very important chemical with many applications not only as a treatment to different conditions, it is also highly toxic and can be poisonous if not lethal. So always practice caution when dealing with potassium permanganate.

Jo is a writer for 'ReAgent Chemical Services Ltd' (http://www.reagent.co.uk), a reputable UK stationed chemical producer that makes, has a supply of and supplies an enormous range of premium chemical. If your business is searching for premium chemical product for example Potassium Permanganate or has other industrial compound needs for applications similar to chemical fusion, analytical uses and cleaning then take a look at ReAgent Chemical Services Ltd.

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Why Become a Medical Billing Specialist?

By Susan Bean

If you have ever wondered why you should become a medical billing specialist, you are not alone. Many people beginning to see potential in a high demand field have begun to ponder on just what benefits they really receive within the career. Though the field is in high demand within the health care industry, does that mean that you actually have an opportunity to take on the career at full force or will it take a great deal more than education to get you really started? Will your earning potential be low or high and can it increase as you progress within your profession? These are all significant questions as they most affect you as you take on the medical billing specialist profession.
What Do You Need to Become a Medical Billing Specialist?
What will your future employers look for as you apply for a position as a medical billing specialist? This is very important as you should become prepared as soon as possible in order to enter your career with a strong hold on your potential. A basic certification may be all that is required, which is why you definitely want to check out the opportunities afforded by the certification degree. If you rather, you can pursue a 2 year associate's degree in Medical Information Technology or similar programs, or a four year degree in Medical Assisting, Health Care Administration, or even Health Care Management.
How Will You Enter the Field?
You most likely aren't going to start out at the top, but with due diligence and the appropriate training comprehension, you can quickly work your way up as a medical billing specialist, to consulting, and even managing. You must first locate the employer that is looking for your qualifications, and enter the field in a position that you feel most comfortable starting out in. You always want to remember to brace yourself, as this is a fast paced career that will need your highest performance for top efficiency and accuracy.
What is Your Earning Potential?
You can start out in an entry level position making as much as $10-$15 an hour, depending on your state and actual specialty, working your way up to as much as $60 an hour. This is a great increase and will likely require a few years of experience with exemplary performance within the field. The top performers of the field can go on to much higher levels and top tier positions, even going on towards entrepreneurship and even advocacy.
If you are asking why you should become a medical billing specialist, you obviously are showing a great interest in the field and want to take a look at its dynamics. If you will be happy or not within the profession depends on how well you work within an office setting, as well as how well you interact with other departments within the facility. You want to get the most adequate training before dipping your feet in the water, as this is a career, not merely a job and being prepared can make it quite successful.

Thinking about a job in medical coding and billing? If you're interested in gaining the right medical coding training, then take a look at http://www.medicalbillingandcodingsalarydata.com

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Hurricane GINA - Genetic Information Nondiscrimation Act - Makes Landfall

By Jerry Ballard

GINA is here. The name sounds like a hurricane and to some employers it might be.
This "GINA" stands for the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, signed into law May 21, 2008.
As science has gotten more sophisticated and the cost of health care continues to rise, it became clear that employers would start using genetics as a way to screen new hires or let go of current employees. This law prohibits discrimination by employers and health insurers on the basis of genetic information. Many states already have laws on the books, this just broadens the protection against genetic discrimination, The bill authorizes civil actions by employees, individuals, or their representatives for damages or equitable relief against employers who violate this act.
GINA's employment provisions took effect on November 21, 2009, and its group health plan provisions apply to calendar-year plans as of January 1, 2010. New employment posters should be ordered that include GINA.
What do you need to do to avoid getting swept away by GINA?
First, ensure your employee medical records procedures comply with GINA by maintaining all documentation related to an employee's health, medical condition or treatment in a secure location and in a confidential file separate from other personnel records. GINA requires that genetic information about an employee or applicant be maintained in a separate medical file and kept discretely as a confidential medical record.
Doctor's notes for absences that contain a medical diagnosis need to be kept separately from the normal personnel file. It is actually recommended for you to create a standard absence notice that you give to employees to have completed by the doctor. This notice would not include any medical information to minimize the risk.
Take a good hard look at your employee handbook and other policies to make sure that they make it clear that you do not discriminate on the basis of an employee's genetic background.
Make sure your company EEO statement and employment application adds language to include GINA, as GINA will affect not only current employees, but potential applicants as well.
Work closely with your health care, insurance and other benefits providers to make sure that your plans are in compliance. Recently, employers have been conducting health risk assessments on employees or creating different benefits plans based on criteria to incent "healthy" behavior. These plan designs need to be examined closely to see if they violate the law.
Finally, speak with all your supervisors to make sure they understand that all medical information provided by employees must be handled differently. For example, an employee tells you that their mother just died from cancer and it runs in the family. Later, you decided to terminate that employee but somehow it is suggested that the termination was because the company wanted to avoid the costs of medical care should the employee get cancer. This would create big problems.
This new law is one that will result in new litigation very quickly, since employees share a lot of information and often talk about medical issues at work. The key with GINA, as with every hurricane, is to be prepared.
(C) 2010 Jerry Ballard, Perfect People Solutions

Jerry Ballard is the president and lead consultant at Perfect People Solutions, a unique consulting firm that provides professional HR support to businesses anywhere in the U.S. If you have questions about GINA, work discrimination, or any other people issue, visit our new website, http://www.perfectpeoplesolutions.com, or contact Jerry directly at (888) 423-4184, ext. 4.

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To Your Health! - How To Organize Your Health Information

By Alicia Rockmore Co-Author: Sarah Welch

How many times have you shown up to a doctor's appointment and been handed a stack of multi-colored double sided forms to fill out? You scan the information and realize that you don't necessarily remember when you had your tonsils out as a child or the name of the medicine that caused you to break out in hives five years ago. You soldier on valiantly, filling in the blanks as best you can, hoping that your memory lapses won't come back to haunt you. Having complete and accurate records for everyone in your family is not just a nice thing to have, it's essential. The good news is that getting them in order is a straightforward organizational task.
Alicia on 'Why It Matters'
Medical histories are a critical tool for doctors as they help them identify potential issues, make diagnoses, and define safe treatment plans. Your medical records and family history provide essential information and data points that can give a doctor a better picture of what might be ailing you today or what you may want to keep an eye on in the future. It is an investment in you and your family's long term health that is absolutely worth making.
Sarah on 'The Basics'
The first step towards keeping accurate medical information is to capture the critical particulars for every member in your family. Basic information should include at a minimum the following: Family doctor name and contact numbers, insurance information including copy of insurance card, medications currently being taken on a regular basis as well as dosage, allergies to medications or anything else, blood type, any current or recent medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma) , and pharmacy name and phone number. Type it up and store on your computer so you can print out a copy and take to your doctor appointments or an emergency room visit.
Here are three additional areas to think about when organizing your medical information. These are intended to be a great starting point, but please always check with your own doctor about additional data that would be helpful to have.
#1: Past
Mapping your family's medical history will provide any medical professional with a solid foundation for understanding what you may be at risk for in the future. At your next family gathering, take some time to learn more about your family's health history if you don't already have a clear picture. Make note of any illnesses among your grand parents, aunts, uncles, parents, and siblings. For those relatives who have passed away note what they died from and how old they were. In addition, keep track of your significant illnesses and hospitalizations. The more information you can collect in this area the clearer the picture for doctors down the line.
#2: Present
Keep a running list of things you want to talk to your doctor about on your next visit. They may be as minor as a small heartburn problem or as important as remembering to get your cholesterol checked. If you jot things down when they come to mind, you will be less likely to forget something that could be important to discuss at your next checkup. This is a great thing to do for your kids as well so that when you meet with the pediatrician you can not only discuss big health concerns but you can also remember the little things like toilet training issues and how to stop thumb sucking.
#3: Future
Keep handy a list of screening tests that can help identify problems well in advance and make a note of when you should first have them done. These are obviously different for each person and change as we get older. Examples include cholesterol screening, diabetes test, mammogram, colonoscopy, skin exam, eye exam, hearing test, bone density scan and EKG.

We are the co-founders of Buttoned Up, inc., a company dedicated to helping stretched and stressed women get themselves organized (along with everybody else they’re responsible for too!). We welcome your thoughts! Please send ideas and questions to us at: yourlife@getbuttonedup.com or visit us at http://www.getbuttonedup.com

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Information Relating to Medical Records and Secrecy Regulations of HIPAA

By Greg Garner

There are various records and information that some individuals wish to keep confidential. Medical records are just some of this data. Thus it is not surprising to learn that someone wants his or her medical information be kept private specifically if their health condition is sensitive. Since there has been several complains about the leakage of medical information not only by ordinary individuals but celebrities as well, the US Congress approved HIPAA or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The law implemented in 2003 aims to guard the interest of the patients in maintaining the confidentiality of their medical information. In addition to that, any health professional authorized or not, cannot divulge the health information of a certain patient without asking permission to the direct individual concerned.
The patient should be notified first of how his or her medical information is to be used before the authorized employee of the health care provider can use the records. Here are some more important facts you should know relating to HIPAA.
1. Who are involved in HIPAA Secrecy Law?
Not all institutions are obliged to follow the HIPAA policies. Only individuals and institutions that deal with information regarding health cares. These may include hospitals, insurance companies, pharmacies, nursing homes, doctors, nurses and other employees who have direct access to the said records of the patients.
2. How about the Exempted?
Not all insurance companies are obliged to follow the HIPAA regulations. Life insurance companies, for instance, do not need to coordinate with HIPAA law, as well as institutions like law enforcement agencies.
3. Knowing one's Medical Information
For instances that the patient asks to see or review his or her medical record, it would be very easy. As covered by HIPAA, the patient has the right to such a claim. If there will be any adjustments needed to be done according to the patient, they are to be done without hassles. No one has the right to disclose any information of the medical condition of a patient even the doctor or nurse attending to the patient unless the patient has consented.
4. Helpful Tips
The hospital, doctor or nurse who takes care of the patient's need can share the condition of the patient to people whom the patient has given permission, most probably close friends and members of the family. In some cases where the patient's condition will not allow him or her to know the real condition of his health, family members will be informed without the consent of the patient as long as it is for his own benefit.
Confidential information such as health conditions of the patient must remain private and secure to avoid any leakage. HIPAA has been implemented to shield patients against people who use medical information of some patients for their own gains. Any violation of HIPAA has equivalent penalty that will be applied to the violator. These things must be disclosed to health care providers' staffs, individuals and companies that deal with health care issues.

For more information, please visit our HIPAA Training Course website.

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