At one time or another, we all need medical care. Whether it’s for a sudden illness, a chronic condition or a serious illness or injury, we’ll need a doctor’s help. Of course, we expect the care we receive to help us, not harm us. But unfortunately, that is not always the case. Doctors, nurses and […]
Are Antibiotics Helpful or Harmful? What You Need to Know.
Antibiotics are the go-to treatment for many types of infections. Doctors prescribe them, and/or patients demand them, for a wide variety of ailments. However, antibiotics are a mixed blessing. Are antibiotics helpful or harmful? Sometimes they don’t help you recover, sometimes they can make you sicker, and collectively they are causing great harm. Doctors are […]
Questions to Ask Before Surgery
Do you need surgery? There’s a lot to consider, and worry about, before a surgical procedure. It’s scary to think about going under anesthesia, and it’s scary to think about a doctor cutting you open! And it’s really scary to think about the possibility of something going wrong. But instead of putting your head in […]
Help with the Stress of Caregiving
Here’s a job listing few people would get excited about: 20-100+ hours a week with no pay. Applicant must put the needs of others above their own needs, have physical strength for heavy lifting, a strong stomach to handle bodily fluids, limited or no desire to get outside, an upbeat attitude, ability to thrive with […]
Doctor Burnout Can Impact Your Health
Do you ever wake up and feel like you absolutely do not want to get out of bed and face your job? Does your job make you feel like you can’t succeed, no matter how hard you try? These symptoms of job burnout are never pleasant and might lead you to quit your job or […]
Are Your Medical Records Accurate?
Accurate medical records are essential for receiving the best healthcare possible. Clearly, your doctor may treat you inappropriately if your records contain wrong or incomplete information. Unfortunately, health records can include mistakes about any aspect of a patient’s health and his/her medical and family history. Whether your doctors use Electronic Health Records (EHRs) or paper […]
Can You Trust Advice from Other Patients?
When we have a problem, we often ask friends and family for advice. How to fix a leak under the sink? How to get a baby to sleep? And we use Yelp and Google to read reviews on places to eat and hotels to stay in. But where should we find information and support around […]
Help for Hard to Diagnose Health Issues
It’s not fun to feel sick. And it can really interfere with your life. But it’s really maddening when no one can figure out what’s wrong with you. You trudge from doctor to doctor, often undergoing many tests. You might be incorrectly diagnosed. As a result, you might undergo various treatments that don’t help. Or […]
Are Medications Safe?
Americans are taking billions of pills and other medications every year. Almost 50% of US adults take at least one prescription medication. And many millions take over the counter medications. We rely on medications to keep us healthy and to cure both serious and minor ailments. In many cases, people would not survive without their […]
How to Save Money on Prescription Medications
Prescription medications can be frighteningly expensive, even with insurance coverage. Have you ever suffered sticker shock? It’s happened to me on several occasions, including a co-pay of $450 for a medication we didn’t even end up using! These high prescription medication prices are hurting our collective health and our wallets. How widespread and serious is […]