Starting a Career in Medical Billing

By Holly DeMuro

Are you interested in a career in healthcare, but don't know where to start? For the past twelve years, I have been working in the healthcare field as a medical biller, coder, practice manager and consultant. Over the years I have been responsible for hiring medical office staff. I share my experiences with you in hopes of providing guidance and insight as you begin your own healthcare career. Many websites and articles advertise medical billing classes that promise $50,000 salaries to those who enroll in their course. However, this method does not guarantee success. A medical billing career requires not only an education but also experience and a strong knowledge and understanding of the available resources that will help you through the day-to-day challenges.
First, let's talk about experience. The most practical way to get into the field is to seek an entry level position with a doctor's office or hospital billing department or with a medical billing services. Following this path, you will be exposed to the healthcare environment while receiving on- the-job training from an experienced mentor. Don't expect immediate gratification. As with any career, you must gain knowledge through experience before you can climb the employment ladder. You will find that the education you receive on the job is very different from the information you learn in a medical billing school. This is not to say that a formal education in medical billing is bad, quite the contrary, it is a great place to start. A formal medical billing education will provide the foundation on which the rest of your career will be built. As a matter of fact, healthcare workers can increase their earning potential with certifications in billing and coding.
As you begin your career in the medical field, you will find that even the most seasoned medical biller does not know everything about billing. What they do know, however, is where to find the answers. Resources and networking plays a significant role in a medical billing career. The internet holds an abundant amount of information regarding medical billing. Understanding medical documentation guidelines and how they apply to evaluation and management is essential for any medical biller, as well as a good grasp of ICD-9 (and ICD-10) and CPT coding. Being familiar with one's Medicare website is also a plus. Most importantly, developing networks with the right people will allow you to ask questions, learn from and share information and ideas. An excellent website for resources and networking is synahealth.com. There you will find useful web links and medical information while networking with others in the field.
Finally, don't be intimidated by your lack of experience, but at the same time know where you belong based on your experience level. Look for positions that specify entry level until you have gained experience. If you don't find any good jobs that specify entry level try searching for the following specific job titles: accounts receivable collector, payment poster, charge or data entry, or medical billing clerk. Read the job description and research the company in advance of the interview. Nothing is worse than asking an interviewee what they know about the company or the job description and they reply: nothing!
Prepare your resume and cover letter to show an eagerness and ability to learn. Make sure that you customize your resume for each individual job. This can be done by focusing on your related experience or training as it applies to the company's needs. For example: the company's job requirements say that they are looking for an AR collector. If you don't know what an AR collector is, do a Google search and find out! Then update your resume to hi-light your training, your experience or the personality traits that will help you to do the job well.
Once you are scheduled for an interview, be prepared. Know about the company's services and know the meaning of every term in the job description and think in advance how you can fulfill their requirements. Keep in mind; you can refer to training and personality as well as experience. Let's refer back to our example of the AR collector. Your research has taught you that an AR collector is the person who calls the insurance to find out why a medical bill has not been paid. What else did you learn during your web search and what can you surmise based on the job's description? First you know that this is a person who calls the insurance. Do you have good phone skills? Next, we see that the collector is questioning why the medical bill is unpaid. Are you a good investigator and problem solver?
You will find that most employers are more interested in the right personality than anything else. Employers want to see resourcefulness, dedication, determination, and effort before they offer you a job. Finally, when interviewing never be afraid to tell the employer that you don't know an answer immediately, then be sure to follow up with a statement that hi-lights your resources such as: "I am not sure about that just now, but I have established a network or highly experienced billers and resource websites through which I can research the correct answer." Know where you stand and know that no career is impossible if provided the proper direction.

For more information about a healthcare career, to network with others or to discover a plethora of resources read more at http://healthcareisbusiness.blogspot.com/.
Holly DeMuro, CPC is a Professional Coder certified by the American Association of Professional Coders. She is the Director of Operations and EMR/PM Product Manager for SynaMed, a healthcare IT company providing electronic medical record and practice management system to physicians. Holly has 15 years experience in healthcare including medical billing, practice management, consulting, and healthcare staffing. Check us out at http://healthcareisbusiness.blogspot.com/.

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Is HIPAA Compliance in Your Medical Practice a Problem?

By John Reimann

In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, most commonly known as HIPAA. This law was enacted to protect an individual's health information, while at the same time allowing the appropriate exchange of such information between covered entities, such as pharmacies, doctors, and hospitals, to name but a few. Healthcare providers and those in the allied health fields now have access to HIPAA medical software that has been developed to assure compliance with the act.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services issued the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (commonly known as the Privacy Rule) to implement the requirements of HIPAA. This marks the first time in United States history that a set of national standards has been enacted to protect the privacy of an individual's medical information. As with any government document, it is very difficult to understand the language of the Privacy Rule, and even harder to fully comprehend all of HIPAA.
So what does that have to do with HIPAA medical software? Well, as stated previously, the health care provider or allied health professional needs to be fully compliant with HIPAA. A wise man once said that ignorance of the law is no excuse.
To help those in the field of medicine protect the patient's rights while at the same time allowing (as needed) access to that information, HIPAA medical software does the following:

• Implements changes in how information management is handled.
• Addresses issues such as coding.
• Addresses issues regarding security of information technology systems.
• Changes in-patient record management.
• Streamlines insurance reimbursement.
• Handles patient care management issues.

Because most medical practices are switching from a paper based office management system to a computer (and therefore digital or electronic) based office management system, the wise medical professional will want to purchase HIPAA medical software to facilitate the switch over from paper to digital. It is not necessary to reinvent the wheel, after all, and if a software program means that your practice is HIPAA compliant, you are ahead of the game.
Using a good HIPAA medical software program means that your practice is in compliance with the 1996 act passed by Congress, at least as far as the Act has been implemented to date. Many rules relating to HIPAA have yet to be written, and keeping your HIPAA medical software updated is also a wise move.

For more information on medical software take a look at this Medical Software [http://www.medicalsoftwarereviewed.com] site. It covers a wide range of software programs suitable for the medical field.
Software from well-known and lesser-known companies is reviewed including Lytec's Medical Billing Software [http://www.medicalsoftwarereviewed.com/lytecmedicalbillingsoftware.php], IDX systems, Medisoft and many more.

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Medical Software For Your PDA - Does It Work?

By Matt Murren

PDA medical software is used by those in the medical world to keep track of their patients, schedule their time, and perform a number of other activities. The system basically acts as a small miniature computer that can be placed in the back pocket and used when needed. Doctors can no longer complain that they have an appointment on their day off, when their day off is clearly labeled in the system. Of course there are a number of other reasons to use PDA medical software.
The most obvious reason to use PDA software is that it makes life much easier for those in the medical world, especially students studying the practice. In the past the students were required to carry several volumes of medical information with them at all times. These volumes were available in handheld or pocket versions, but they were still quite large and bulky. The print in the books was also very small, making it extremely hard to read. When they did need to look up specific information, they had to thumb through the volume to find that one specific bit of information. Today the same students can use PDA medical software, and find it much easier to look for those answers.
Doctors are also finding that the use of PDA medical software has made their lives easier, but for the same reasons. When an issue arose with a patient, such as the patient who presented with a variety of unusual symptoms, the doctor may have been at a loss as to what their condition was, or how to treat them. To find the proper diagnosis, they needed to look through the multitude of volumes in their own office. They can now find that information quickly and easily by using PDA medical software.
PDA medical software has also made it easier to schedule appointments, and keep track of patients' medical files. Certain software allows doctors to upload all of their patient files onto their PDA where they can access it when needed. This also allows the doctor to keep track of their notes, and even file those notes directly onto the device. Certain software programs have the option of adding notes and other pieces of information onto the file during the appointment. This cuts down on the amount of paperwork needed, and also helps cut back on the amount of time the doctor spends in the office everyday.
Medical software is quite popular, and rightly so. The use of these programs can make life much easier for the doctors, professionals, and students involved. They now have access to a multitude of information, and it is right there whenever they need it, all by using PDA medical software.

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.medical-pda-software.com

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Making Things Easy With No Medical Term Life Insurance

By Sharon Taylor

There are literally several hundred different online companies that are offering life insurance that does not require a physical examination. These no medical term life insurance policies may sound appealing when you first look at them, but it is absolutely vital that you read the fine print because not all plans are created equally. Some no medical exam policies require that the applicants for this type of insurance pay higher premiums. The applicant may even still be required to undergo a physical exam within one to five years after being qualified for the policy.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and No Medical Life Insurance
If you suspect that you may have a pre-existing medical condition, or if you are unsure of what the results of a medical examination may be, it may be a wiser choice for you to try to apply for no medical life insurance which allows you to forgo the exam all together. Insurance carriers do tend to share information with one another, such as the Medical Information Board or MIB that passes around client information to prevent applicants from taking advantage of the system.
So if you apply with one term life insurance provider and are disqualified for the insurance, other local insurance companies will be aware of this and you will have difficulty qualifying for the policy you seek.
Unfortunately, the MIB can make it a lot more difficult for people to get high quality insurance. So if you are looking for well-suited policies, rather than dealing with interested parties to find quotes for you, you can simply jump online and request quotes for no medical life insurance online.
Applying for No Medical Life Insurance
By applying online for no medical life insurance, you can greatly improve your chances of being approved for term insurance. Without having to deal with an insurance provider face to face, you can greatly simplify the process. Most websites offering quotes allow you to apply quickly and easily, filling out the necessary information as well as a basic personal history and health history that will let the insurance provider know that you are in good health and have no pre-existing terminal conditions that would disqualify you from being approved for a policy.
Fill out the necessary information, and in most cases you will be provided with information such as the type of policy you qualify for, what your premium will be and what steps are left to secure the policy. If you are approved, you should be able to print out your new no medical life insurance policy immediately, and your term insurance will go into effect as early as the following day. If you are not approved for what you applied for, you should be able to contact the website providing the insurance policy and inquire why you were not approved.
No medical term life insurance [http://www.hotosspot.com/2007/11/life-insurance.html] is a great option for a variety of different people. If you do not have a terminal illness and you are not living in a nursing home, you will probably be approved for a policy. If you do not want to deal with a medical exam, or you simply want term insurance as quickly and easily as you can obtain it, this is a great option for you to consider.

Sharon Taylor writes articles for eQUOTE Life Insurance. eQUOTE is a leading Internet life insurance company providing families with no-obligation term life insurance quotes, no medical term life insurance and other helpful family insurance resources since 1999.

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Aging Parents - Information You Need In Case Of A Medical Emergency

By Martin R. Sabel

Today, many adult daughters and sons find themselves called upon to help care for their aging parents. Often that care must be provided in an emergency. Could you provide the vital information doctors would need to care for them? If you're like most, you're not sure.
Why You Should Have Instance Access to Your Parent's Senior Health Information
Having your parent's complete medical information handy during an emergency can make a life saving difference. Seniors have more chronic health conditions than the general population. Unfortunately, many adult children aren't aware of all those conditions. Not knowing your parent's medical details can have a life altering impact on the entire family - like not knowing about an allergy to a particular medicine.
If your loved one is unconscious or unable to speak during a crisis, having medical information available can literally be life saving. Medical personnel will need it quickly to properly treat during an emergency.
What Doctor's, Nurses and Emergency Medical Personnel Need to Know
At a minimum have the following information available, as well.
1. Names of doctors-Your parents' doctors are good sources for the details of your parent's specific health care needs. Include the name of the primary care physician and all specialists.
2. Medical history - Including any surgeries and chronic medical conditions like Alzheimer's disease, COPD, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease and cancer and any transplant surgery.
3. Medications - Including over-the-counter drugs, vitamin and other supplements
4. Allergies - Both to medicines and foods
5. Birth dates- Because many times insurance and medical information are stored by date of birth. can improve communication in an emergency or a crisis.
6. Emergency contacts - Include multiple contacts with alternate numbers
7. Advanced directives - The legal documents that tell doctors and hospital personnel whether life support is wanted and if resuscitation efforts should be used.
8. Insurance policies- including the name of the issuing insurance company, the policy numbers and contact numbers to get approval for procedures.
Getting Your Parent's Doctor To Discuss Your Parents Health Issues
Due to privacy restrictions created with the Health Insurance Portability and Affordability Act (HIPAA), doctors are no longer as open as they once were to discussing your parent's medical needs.
Your parent's doctor won't discuss private information with you unless your parent first gives the physician permission to discuss their care with you. The doctor's office may require your mom or dad to fill out a form giving the doctor written permission to freely discuss private medical matters. Without that permission, the doctor may still be willing to talk to you about your concerns and be glad to get your input but don't expect much detail in return.
If it's in your parent's best interest for a medical practitioner to discuss their health issues, HIPAA rules allow them to discuss that care. For example, if your mom or dad isn't able to give important medical information in an emergency. Emergency medical personnel will turn to you for that information.

Does an aging parent have you ready to pull your hair out? Save your hair and your sanity. Use Martin Sabel's popular elder care tips and resources at http://www.mreldercareonline.com to keep your loved one safe without emotionally or financially bankrupting yourself in the process.

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Just What is an EMR (Electronic Medical Record)?

By D. York

An EMR, or electronic medical record, is a medical record for a patient in a digital format that is stored on a computer or in a computer server. In health informatics, an EMR is considered by some to be one of the different forms of electronic health records, but usually these two terms mean the same thing. Sometimes EMR's include other information, such as HIT, or health information technology, which are systems that keep track of medical information, like medical practice management systems. These systems support the electronic medical records.
Until 2006, most medical practices still do not use EMR's or other health information technologies, like computer physician order entry systems, or CPOE's. In fact, less than 10% of the American hospitals have begun to use this technology, while only 16% of primary care physicians now use electronic health records. The majority of medical transactions in the US are still done on paper, with a system that was developed in the 1950's and is still in use today. The health care industry actually spends only about 2% of their gross revenues on HIT's, or health information technology, which is way behind other areas like finance.
One of the main problems of most medical facilities implementing EMR's is the interoperability for different medical offices and professionals to use the systems and software to communicate and exchange data accurately. In the US, the development of standards for EMR's is at the front of the agenda for national health care. Without a good interoperable EMR system, physicians, pharmacies, hospitals, and other medical professionals cannot share patient information correctly, which would be necessary for patient-centered care.
Since the EMR's need to be compatible, in 2004, President Bush created the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology or ONC, to address issues that deal with EMR's and interoperability issues to help establish a national health information network, or NHIN. This organization, along with the Center for Information Technology Leadership, has placed four different categories, or levels, of data that is in the health care data exchange right now. These different levels are:
Non-electronic data - this includes paper, mailed information, or phone calls.
Machine transportable data - this includes faxes and emails.
Machine organizable data - this includes HL7 messages, images, and objects.
Machine interpretable data - this includes automatically transferred lab results to an electronic health record.

D. York is with Fox Meadows, a provider of electronic medical records software, EMR Software, and medical billing software. Learn more by visiting http://www.foxmeadows.com.

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What is Medical Identity Theft?

By Clyde Cathcart

Everyone has heard about identity theft. You lose your wallet or purse, someone uses your credit cards to run up charges and leaves you to foot the bill. But there are other forms of identity theft that can have disastrous results even to the point of costing you your life. One of these is medical identity theft.
Medical identity theft consists of having your medical records and/or medical insurance information used by someone other than you. Someone may call in a prescription in your name so the information doesn't show up on their medical records. An uninsured person might use your identity and medical insurance to receive treatment. A doctor billing an insurance company for services not performed on an insured patient he never treated. These are some examples of medical identity theft.
The problems that arise from these practices aren't limited to just an insurance company being bilked. Everything medical that happens to you, from prescription antibiotics to organ transplants are reported to an insurance clearinghouse called the Medical Information Bureau (MIB). If your MIB information is wrong, then you're more vulnerable to errors in treatment that can jeopardize your life. From adverse reactions to allergy causing medications to getting the wrong blood type in a transfusion, you're at risk. There are plenty of errors that occur in medical treatment already without compounding the problem with false information. Also, many insurance policies have annual and lifetime limits on how much service they'll pay. If the protection you've paid for is used up when you need it, then that just might become a problem.
There can also be legal ramifications. Most medical insurance does not pay for 100% of charges. You can be left responsible for the unpaid deductibles and co-payments. If the person receiving treatment under your name is found under the influence of illegal drugs, the police could show up at your door. You can be denied employment, credit or rated for insurance because of the inaccurate information that your now appears in your history.
The chances that you can discover and rectify the situation are also slim with medical identity theft. HIPPA laws make it difficult for you to get your own information. If your credit is not adversely affected, you may not know that the theft has taken place for some time after it occurs. And these types of crimes are often attributed to mistakes in paperwork.
So although medical identity theft doesn't get reported as often as financial identity theft, it is still a growing problem and one to watch out for.

To learn more about ID Theft and to receive a free e-book detailing how ID Theft occurs and what you do to protect yourself, visit http://www.clydereviews.com
Questions, comments? Write me at mail@clydereviews.com
Thanks for reading, Clyde Cathcart

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Medical Transcription Jobs - The Ins and Outs of Medical Transcriptionist Work at Home Jobs

By Jasmine Berry

According to Wikipedia, medical transcription, also known as MT, is an allied health profession which encompasses the process of transcription or converting voice-recorded reports as dictated by physicians and/or other healthcare professionals into text formats.
The medical profession is growing rapidly. Doctors, hospitals, clinics and insurance companies are in need of skilled medical transcriptionists.
Job description:
Medical transcriptionists translate diction from physicians and other health care professionals, into written reports, correspondence and other documents so that it can be used for medical records. Medical transcriptionists who work outside the home can find employment in hospitals, doctors' offices, MT services and home based offices for medical offices and law firms. Those who work in doctors offices also have additional clerical duties. Most MTs who are self employed generally work on a contractual basis.
Because the medical information is increasingly received over the internet in recorded form, transcriptists must have knowledge of medical terminology and be able to spell medical terms accurately. They produce discharge summaries, operative reports, autopsy reports, progressive notes, diagnostive imaging studies, history and physical examination reports and referral letters. Medical transcriptionists will also edit documents for grammar and clarity, look for inconsistencies and errors in the documents and check with the physical or healthcare professional in order to correct them.
These reports are for medical history files, thus a transcriptionists must be able to type quickly and still maintain accuracy in grammar and spelling. They do not come into contact with patients but they need to understand the laws regarding medical record documentation because they are dealing with confidential information.
Requirements:
Medical transcriptionists must be organized and pay close attention to detail. Good analytical skills are a must as well as being able to work well under pressure.
A background in word processing, algebra, introduction to business, business computers applications, English, shorthand, record keeping, composition, health occupations/medical profession education and cooperative office education are an asset to this career. Although many companies train on the job, and state that the transcriptionists are not required to have post secondary education, most employers prefer to hire people who have an associates degree in medical transcription or a certificate. This training can be acquired through community colleges, vocational schools and distance learning programs. Coursework includes anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, law and ethics in medicine, computer literacy and applications, and English grammar and punctuation.
Medical transcriptionists earn $10-$40 an hour. Some companies however, pay per line, in which case the transcriptionists may earn 7 cents per line for hospital transcription. Those who hold a certificate or degree in earn more than those without. Medical transcriptionsts without a degree make around 28,000 a year while those with post secondary education can earn as much as 50,000 a year.
Employment of medical transcriptionists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.
The overall growth in the health service industry should be a major contributing factor for the expansion of this job market. The greater the demand the better it is for those working on a contractual basis from the home. Of course offline workers will also find that there is enough room for everyone in this job market.

The Moms Work at Home Directory is dedicated to providing legitimate work at home jobs for parents who desire to spend more time with their children. For more information on medical transcriptions work at home jobs please visit their resource on Medical Transcription Jobs [http://www.moms-work-at-home-directory.com/medical-transcription-jobs.html] to gives you all the information to find Work at Home Jobs [http://www.moms-work-at-home-directory.com/] in the 21st century.

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Focus On The Use Of Electronic Medical Records Programs Increased

By Cassie Netherfield

A system to automate medical records has been built by the University of Maryland. Computerized medical records are a fairly new concept that allows doctors, nurses, and other health care practitioners to access patient records, files and information electronically in place of a tangible, fixed form.
A lot of aspects of its use was criticized because the medical industry wasn't quite open to it yet. Some practitioners had even questioned the practicality of the endeavor, particularly as doctors simply cannot be bothered with having to carry a computer with them at all times.
There is an answer to this problem, however. A stable, easy-to-use, and intelligently designed program. The University of Maryland Human Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL) had made sure that this new electronic medical records system would not create a delay in the health care professional's performance and time. In short, a system that decreases the search time significantly, enables the presentation of data properly and accurately, and is a lot less susceptible to glitches. To sum it all up, this program is beneficial since it provides the medical practitioners more time with their clients and less fiddling with their paper trail.
Equipped with the expertise of computer scientists and researchers, a sound plan for a great electronic medical records program was built, with this list of goals and benefits:
(1) Accurate and complete information.
(2) Finding and locating trends and anomalies in a patient's health history.
(3) Quick and easy access in spite of massive volumes of information.
(4) Keep the program simple, yet also flexible so it can be modified to address a variety of areas and uses.
One problem against automation was the probability of receiving incorrect or even losing information. Although similar concerns apply to using physical patient record information and documents they were at least physical, whereas electronic medical patient records are not. However, there are software nowadays that guarantee the safety of data.
One key perk to using electronic medical record systems is the fact that it can detect errors at once. With the right elements, an electronic medical record package can disseminate massive amounts of medical information from patient data and recognize patterns and trends across several elements and criteria. This part of the program can easily be customized meet the specific division's requirements.
If you need this product, or any other program for that matter, to succeed, it should be simplified. The more simple it is, the more effective doctors will be in their work. The time indicated in their schedules could be significantly narrowed down, since doctors can now easily get what they need from the database, and in a short amount of time, as well. This is best for such a busy industry, where time is of the essence.
The electronic medical records systems in place today are very much similar to what the University of Maryland has produced. Electronic medical records and software packages are in place and in use all over world.

Electronic Medical Records software can help your daily office routine flow. Visit http://www.ChartLogic.com now to see what they can offer your office, they'll change the way you think of Medical practice management software.

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

Personal Health Records Could Save Your Life In Medical Emergencies

By Catherine Collins

Imagine you are on a routine business trip to a foreign country. You collapse after your dinner at a fancy sea food restaurant. On arrival to the hospital, under the current fragmented health care system, retrieving your medical record is difficult, answers to questions whether you are allergic to any seafood or your previous medication history or even your primary physician contact details are difficult to obtain. You will be treated as any other emergency arrived patient. On discharge from the hospital you will carry no more than a paper based record of your medical history.
What are the probabilities of this episode recurring? And how can you make a note that you may be allergic to certain kind of sea food? Can you carry this vital medical information with you always?
Digital Personal Health Record can answer these questions. Digital personal health records enable people to store their vital health information in an easy to use format. It could be in memory keys like USB drives or in Compact Discs.However, Memory sticks or USB drives are popular as they are easy to use and carry around.Also the data in them could be repeatedly changed.
The basic health information that you should be carrying around in these USB drives are your personal contact information, emergency contact information and health insurance contact details. Along with medical or surgical history and medication history. History of any allergy to medicines and also any other food types should be part of your emergency information kit.
These could be easily created in a word document and stored in your USB drive. You could also identify this USB drive with a sticker stating that it is your health information file. The only danger of this method is that if you lose your USB drive, all your health information along with contact details are lost.
To safeguard against this you need to purchase a commercially available USB drive with stored template for health information along with a pass word protection. These small precautions will help you to better organize your health care data and help physicians to optimize their treatment to you in case of emergency.
If individuals carry portable personal record with them always, physicians on their arrival to hospital in case of any emergencies can rapidly establish the patient's medical antecedents. On their departure from the hospital they can carry their updated medical treatment history all the time, everywhere. This will enable an individual to maintain a record of their health information in illness. Physicians can deliver better optimized care to patients who have their complete health records.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purpose only and is in no way intended to be a substitute for medical consultation with a qualified professional. The author encourages Internet users to be careful when using medical information. If you are unsure about your medical condition, consult a physician.
Reference:
http://www.open.medicdrive.org
Open MedicDrive is a collaborative Wiki for advancing and educating about the role of Health care Information Technology in Personal Health Record Management.

Ms.Catherine Collins has spent nearly a decade in writing about health care topics. She has published her work on health care management in several leading publications in online media.Her vision is to help people to take care of their health with aid of current technologies.

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Diabetes Medic Alert Bracelet - Fashionable And Helpful Identification

By Flor Serquina

Today, there are more than 17 million people living with diabetes in America. That makes the odds pretty darn good that at least a few of your co-workers, neighbors, friends, and family have already been touched by the disease on some level.
With that in mind, you may not need to tell them a lot they do not already know; then again, they may be sorely in need of some accurate and current diabetes education. Either way, you only have to share the basics of handling an emergency at this point, such as providing a diabetes medic alert bracelet.
Medical Identification
Even if you have got a buddy with you at all times, it is important to make sure that you have medical identification in case you need to be treated by medical personnel. You do not need a giant scarlet D on your lapel, but wearing some form of identification at all times is the best way to ensure you will get proper treatment should a blood sugar emergency cause you to lose consciousness among strangers.
One good example is the diabetes medic alerts bracelet. This particular bracelet contains all the necessary medical information about the patient who is wearing the bracelet. This diabetic information is engraved within the bracelet to alert paramedics if ever they need to take action in an individual's medical emergency.
The diabetes medic alert bracelet is a practical and hands-on step to efficient caring of one's health, especially with a disease that is erratic and unstable.

The Options
Today, the diabetes medic alert bracelet is gradually taking its fair share in the market. More and more people understand their importance, considering the fact that the occurrence of attacks is unpredictable.
And because many people are now affected with the disease, a wide array of fashionable designs is available to give people ample choices that will match their taste.
When you are shopping for a diabetes medic alert bracelet, keep these things in mind:
1. It must be noticeable.
This is the most important criterion for a good identification. In cases of emergency, most people may not be aware of the concerned individual's condition. They may be in shock or too agitated to look for your medic alert bracelet. Of course, their utmost concern is on how to give you first aid.
However, if you have a noticeable diabetes medic alert bracelet, it will be easier for paramedics or for other people to identify your condition and provide you the necessary medical attention that you need.

2. It must be comfortable.
Since you will be wearing this bracelet almost every single day of your life, you should wear something that is comfortable. Otherwise, you won't wear it. And when that happens, you will never know how unsafe your condition might be especially for those people who know nothing of your disease.

3. It must be durable.
As mentioned, you will be wearing this bracelet everyday. Hence, it should be durable enough to stand the wear and tear brought about by the surf, sand, or whatever other elements you may encounter.
4. It should be comprehensive.
The diabetic information contained in your diabetes medic alert bracelet must show all the pertinent medical information about your condition. In this way, paramedics will know what kind of medication they should give you.

5. It should be stylish.
Style should be one thing that you will not neglect. Attraction is one factor that people who should be wearing the medical bracelet should consider. Not that you want to show off your condition to everybody but more on making the item pleasing to wear. The idea behind this is that you must like the item, or, again, you might not wear it consistently.
So the next time you go shopping for accessories, do not forget to take home some fashionable diabetes medic alert bracelets with you. You will never know how these dainty accessories can save your life.

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