No one goes into the hospital expecting to pick up a potentially deadly sepsis infection. Yet it’s killing hundreds of thousands of people every year. Some hospitals are better than others at identifying and treating sepsis. How well does your hospital manage sepsis infections? The what, how and why of sepsis. What is sepsis? Sepsis […]
Should you Speak Up if You Think Your Doctor is Wrong? YES!
Would you speak up if a waiter brought you a hamburger, but you ordered fish? Would you speak up if the bagger at the grocery store put cans of soup on top of a loaf of bread in your bag? I am guessing that most of us would speak up in these circumstances. After all, […]
Reduce Your Risk of Medical Errors That Even the Best Doctors Can Make
We literally put our lives in the hands of doctors. We trust them to do their jobs well – to heal us and protect us from harm. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In fact, medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. Do you know what you should do […]
What Happens if You Don’t Get Your Test Results When You Leave the Hospital?
As a hospital patient, it is almost certain that your doctors will order tests to determine your diagnosis and/or treatment plans. Getting the results of these tests, and following through with care based on the findings, is critical for your health. But sometimes you don’t get these results before you are discharged. What happens if you don’t […]
Tips to Save Money on Prescriptions
Everyone has experienced the sticker shock of picking up an unexpectedly expensive medication from the pharmacy. Even with insurance coverage your co-pay can be expensive. Or perhaps you haven’t reached your deductible yet and have to pay the full price. How can you save money on prescriptions? Read on! What can you do? There are […]
How Should You Dispose of Medications?
It happens to all of us. Years pass by as you accumulate partially used bottles of medicine – prescription and over-the-counter (OTC). The bottles accumulate yet we do nothing. Probably because we don’t know what to do with these medications. How should you dispose of medications? Why can’t you flush ’em? According to Dispose My […]
Can Your Medication Make You Sicker?
Medications are a common treatment. So common in fact, many patients take multiple medications. Although medication is supposed to make you better, that is not always the case. Can your medication make you sicker? Unfortunately, yes. Americans take a lot of medication! We are taking a lot of pills! Research estimates that in any given […]
Do You Know What Kinds of Preventive Care You Need?
Whether you are dealing with a serious health condition or consider yourself healthy, it’s very important to keep up with your doctor’s recommendations for preventive care. Do you know what kinds of preventive care you need? Are you diligent about scheduling all the necessary tests and care? If you’re like most of Americans, the answer […]
What do Doctors Think About Online Reviews and Ratings?
When planning almost anything these days, from vacations and birthday parties to haircuts and oil changes, many of us read online reviews before making a decision. The same is true for people choosing doctors. In my recent post about how to find a new doctor, I discuss the merits of online reviews (and other ways […]
Why Isn’t Healthcare The Same for Everyone?
In last week’s post, I covered the differences in healthcare and health outcomes for people based on their gender, race, income and sexuality. Today’s post addresses the question: Why isn’t healthcare the same for everyone? It’s a complicated problem. Equality in healthcare is a complicated problem because there are many factors that influence the quality […]