WhereToFindCare.com Blog

Ignorance is no excuse, find better nursing home care

2012-02-07T06:00:00.006-05:00

Are you faced with placing your loved one in a nursing home and rushed for time? Usually admissions to skilled nursing homes are from a hospital after your loved one has had an event, surgery, or an illness. You are usually given a short amount of time to select where your loved one will go and admissions tours will only give you the very positive about their facility.

That's why WhereToFindCare.com provides valuable quality information on most skilled nursing homes. It allows you to compare area nursing homes based on their adherance to Medicare Quality Measures such as bed sore and uti rates, very important to know especially in the elderly population.

Get to know your area nursing homes.Start your search here. Choose your state and press Go:

Why should you tell us about Care Stars you meet?

2012-02-06T11:00:00.009-05:00

Why should you tell us about a Care Star? Why not? Nurses, physicians, assistants, chiropractors, therapists, volunteers, administrators take excellent care of us each and every single day. They dedicate their lives to improving the quality and experience of our health care encounters. Feedback from the people like you, who use health care, is critical to making our experiences even better. WhereToFindCare.com can help you share that positive feedback on persons who provide excellent care to their patients through our Care Stars program.

Everyone deserves recognition and praise for going above and beyond expectations. WhereToFindCare.com makes it simple and easy to get that word about. By sharing who exceeded your expectations you can help others choose better health care. Interested patients may also seek out those Care Stars for their own care. It happens everyday across other industries, from the hair salon to the auto mechanic, and now it's happening in health care.

Did you have a Care Star story to share? Tell us more here.
http://www.wheretofindcare.com/rate-A-Provider.aspx

Related articles:
What is a Care Star?

Good news for your day

Patients Rave about their Chiropractors

Patients love their health care providers

What is a Care Star?

2012-01-28T10:00:00.014-05:00

By definition, a Care Star is an exceptional healthcare worker who exceeded the expectations of the people they served. It is a registered trademark of WhereToFindCare.com LLC.

How do you know a Care Star when you see one? They are the people that give extra to make sure you have all your needs met during your health care encounters. This includes meeting the needs family and visitors as well.

Can you provide some examples of Care Stars? Absolutely.

Dr. Levine's staff nurse - Becky was acknowledged as a Care Star by a patient. "She was so caring. I am afraid of needles and she made everything so much easier" I suspect this was very important to this patient considering Dr. Levine is an allergist and she most likely needed some testing.

Dr Vanessa Taylor, a podiatrist, was acknowledged as a Care Star for helping her patient "feel comfortable like one would at home. It was like I was sitting on my couch at home getting walked through the procedure. She also put up a cover so i couldnt see my foot, gah I'm afraid to see blood."

And Amanda, an OB nurse at Fort Sander Regional Medical Center, was praised by her patient that remarked ".. She was just an awesome nurse! Not only did I notice the above ordinary care she gave me but also my husband and family just loved her. She made the whole situation and delivery so much more comfortable!! Every nurse should be trained by her and have her degree of caring. ... Thank you Amanda for your help with our Baby girl!"

Does this sound familiar to you? Did you experience a Care Star when you went to the doctors last time, pharmacy, hospital, or used any health care services?

Get started telling us about your Care Star. Click here to find your provider and share your Care Star.

Do you have an RSS feed for Care Stars so I can stay current? Absolutely. Here is it. Please add it to your feeds and tell your friends. Everyone should see the good news.

http://www.wheretofindcare.com/CareStar.xml

Do you have a twitter feed for Care Stars? Yes, come follow them at Twitter.com/CareStars

Do you have any questions we can answer about Care Stars?

Baby products do not prevent SIDS according to FDA

2011-11-08T06:20:00.001-05:00

Parents will do anything to help their infants sleep safely through the night. This includes purchasing infant positioners marketed on the premise that it keeps your baby safe while sleeping. According to the FDA, there are no products that you should buy including the infant positioners. The new NICHD Back to Sleep Campaign website offers even more information about SIDS and what action you can take.

Take a look at the following Safe Sleep Top 10. Are you following all of them to keep your baby safe?

Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.
Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved* crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet. Never place your baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces.
Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area. Don't use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, and pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby's sleep area, and keep any other items away from your baby's face.
Do not allow smoking around your baby. Don't smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and don't let others smoke around your baby.
Keep your baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep. Your baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room as you. If you bring the baby into bed with you to breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside cosleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed) when finished.
Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep,but don't force the baby to take it. (If you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.)
Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.
Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk to your health care provider.
Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby's head:provide "Tummy Time" when your baby is awake and someone is watching; change the direction that your baby lies in the crib from one week to the next; and avoid too much time in car seats, carriers, and bouncers.

For more information on the topics - check out these resources:

American Academy of Pediatrics:The Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Diagnostic Coding Shifts, Controversies Regarding the Sleeping Environment, and

New Variables to Consider in Reducing Risk

National Institutes of Child Health and Development-Safe Sleep for Your Baby: Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

200,000 kids injured in playground injuries

2011-11-06T18:13:00.013-05:00

According to the CDC, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries costing on average $1.2 billion each year.

Where They Happen:

About 45% of playground-related injuries are severe–fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations (Tinsworth 2001).
About 75% of nonfatal injuries related to playground equipment occur on public playgrounds (Tinsworth 2001). Most occur at schools and daycare centers (Phelan 2001).
Between 1990 and 2000, 147 children ages 14 and younger died from playground-related injuries. Of them, 82 (56%) died from strangulation and 31 (20%) died from falls to the playground surface. Most of these deaths (70%) occurred on home playgrounds (Tinsworth 2001).

My own experience tells me it probably happens more than the numbers show. Many children get home based care with ice and over the counter medicines. In my own family, we have had cut feet (glass in the park), cut cheek (stitched in ER), scooter hit in back of head (stitched in head), golf club to the head (ice at home), fall off monkey bars (ice and motrin), and on and on. Sometimes the circumstances produce a decision to go immediately for care, and sometimes it's a wait and see.

Here are following are tips that can be used to prevent children from sustaining injuries on playgrounds:

Play safely. Check to make sure playground equipment your child uses is properly designed and maintained and there’s a safe, soft landing surface below.

Supervision is key. Supervise young children at all times around fall hazards, such as stairs and playground equipment, whether you’re at home or out to play.

Do you have any experience with playground injuries? Do you think the 200,000 annually represents injuries on U.S. playgrounds?

15,000 people die from prescription pain overdoses each year

2011-11-02T13:17:00.017-04:00

Yesterday, the CDC concluded that "One in 20 people in the United States, ages 12 and older, used prescription painkillers nonmedically (without a prescription or just for the "high" they cause) in 2010." And they also warn that the misuse of painkillers is at epidemic proportions.

Did you know that ...

Prescription painkiller overdoses killed nearly 15,000 people in the US in 2008. This is more than 3 times the 4,000 people killed by these drugs in 1999.

Nearly half a million emergency department visits in 2009 were due to people misusing or abusing prescription painkillers.

Nonmedical use of prescription painkillers costs health insurers up to $72.5 billion annually in direct health care costs.

Here are some recommendations the CDC offers to consumers

Use prescription painkillers only as directed by a health care provider.
Make sure they are the only one to use their prescription painkillers. Not selling or sharing them with others helps prevent misuse and abuse.
Store prescription painkillers in a secure place and dispose of them properly.

Need help for yourself or a loved one? Don't wait.

Contact a health care provider who can help you.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers now in Where To Find Care.com

2011-10-31T17:00:00.002-04:00

Know someone looking for help from health care providers specializing in Alcohol and Substance Abuse? WhereToFindCare.com can help.
We have just added thousands of providers from across the country for patients and families to consider when seeking professional help for alcohol and substance abuse diagnosis.

WhereToFindCare.com offers comprehensive information on these providers including outpatient versus inpatient, whether they provide care for criminal justice clients, the type of client they server- substance abuse and or mental illness, and the types of insurance plans if taken.

You can check it out here: wheretofindcare.com and enter your zip.

Let us know if these newest providers are helpful to you.

Reminder-A little flu prevention goes a long way

2011-10-20T09:00:00.003-04:00

Flu Season is here, unfortunately. The last thing you want is the flu. As a reminder, here are a few helpful tips for you and your family to avoid spreading the flu:

1. Place bottles of anti-bacterial hand gel around the house - especially by the heavily used areas:
a. Right in front of the family room computer keyboard
b. Kitchen table/island (next to the fruit bowl)
c. Next to the box of tissues (when they grab a tissue - they will see the gel)
d. Next to the TV remote control
e. By the land-line (phone) and/or answering machine

2. Restock your favorite anti-bacterial hand soap (many scents and moisturizers at Bath and Body Works). Place at all sinks in your house.

3. Keep repeating "wash your hands", "cover your mouth" - not only is it a great reminder of forming good habits, but years later tell their own kids the same thing and thank you for caring.

4. Use Disinfectant sprays- According to Lysol: Laboratory tests have shown that many LYSOL® products, when used according to label instructions, are effective against similar strains of Influenza virus H1N1.

5. Clean all common places with disinfectant wipes including:
Handles: Doors (Inside and Outside), Closet, Mailbox, Cabinents
Appliances: refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave
Handrails: Stair, porch, bath/shower area

6. Buy an upright toothbrush holder to help keep toothbrushes away from each other. Remember to have them rinse the toothbrush with hot water. See CDC for more toothbrush care tips.

7. Open your windows - weather permitting.

8. Don't share cups or straws. Sharing of utencils is also a no-no.

9. Refrain from kissing - Alternatives can be: Hugging (Bear Hugs are great), Blow a kiss, and a peace sign.

Wayne County (MI) Offer Flu Shots for $15

2011-10-19T13:29:00.010-04:00

Thinking about getting your flu shot. Wayne County Health Department is ready to help. They are offering residents flu shots for only $15. Some centers are taking appointments but many offer the shot on a walk in basis. To learn more - click on the inks below.

Wayne County Health Department -

Van Born Road

Appointment Schedule

Walk-in Schedule

Taylor Health Center

Eureka Road

Appointment Schedule

Walk-in Schedule

Redford Area Health Office

Telegraph Road

Appointments Only

Is Michigan's Governor Snyder Taking the Wrong Approach Towards "Curing" Obesity ?

2011-10-14T10:30:00.029-04:00

Recently, Michigan's Governor Rick Snyder announced his special message on Health and Wellness. Snyder reiterated his two objectives on health : Obesity and Infant Mortality. Both can be found on the Governor's dashboard, giving indicators on how well/not well the state is meeting suggested targets relative to these issues. To gather interested lawmakers and key stakeholders, there have been 2 summits to address each of the aforementioned issues. The Obesity Summit took place in September, and the Infant Mortality Summit will take place October 17th. Each of these Summits has been charged with "develop[ing] practical, implementable policy recommendations that will improve Michigan’s health" (Snyder, 2011). Has that happened in the case of Obesity?

The Obesity Summit started as a day full of promise but quickly turned into examining the same strategies we've known for decades. Snyder has announced he will be promoting the use of the state's website to monitor BMI for not only himself and MDCH Director, Olga Dazzo, but will start monitoring Michigan Children's BMI through the MICR. Once the state's immunization registry, the MICR system is now being used as a data warehouse to hold a plethora of information regarding the health of children and adults, who have been included in the data since MICR's inception. MICR information is not only available to Pediatricians, but to daycare providers, school officials, Public Health Workers, Hospitals, and Health Plans as well as others. This means we're assigning yet another number to children, an inaccurate measure on many counts.

Furthermore, suggestions arising from this Summit focused on a sin tax on "unhealthy foods", a regressive tax which will disproportionately affect the poor (an increasing segment of our population in Michigan) while not addressing the root of the problem. Rather than focusing on what we currently are and telling us what to buy (or not buy), why don't we give children and adults the opportunity to lead healthier lives? Use the carrot rather than the stick to induce healthier behaviors and lifestyles. How about instead of stigmatizing the overweight and obese by making our BMI public, we work towards achieving HEALTH AT EVERY SIZE? We don't need to be shamed into submitting, but only give us the tools and we will decrease our health risks.

Possible alternatives to a fat tax:

Promote 2 15-minute breaks each day in partnership with public and private enterprise to provide the opportunity to walk/exercise and enjoy the fresh air
Subsidize and fund ONLY healthier nutrition options in schools to children
Endorse Farm-to-School and School Garden Initiatives
Encourage families to engage in outdoor activities
Incentivize growth of youth farm stand projects and healthy corner stores in places with limited food resources
Provide low-cost equipment to schools for physical activity (i.e. jump ropes, balls, etc)
Set an example by having healthy foods at office celebrations
Advocate walking groups at workplaces, schools, churches, etc.
Reinvest in our schools' physical education through mandating gym class EVERY DAY
Push for healthier foods for all institutionalized populations (i.e. hospitals, mental facilities, prisons)
Champion Safe Routes to Schools, Walking School Buses, Complete Streets, and Bike/Walking Paths

These are just a few options of which there are many to promote health without causing stigma and shame for those who are overweight and obese. By looking at the problem on such a superficial level as only weight and BMI, we feed a preoccupation with being thin rather than healthy.

Please feel free to share your suggestions as progress towards leading Healthier lifestyles!

Extra Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs

2011-10-06T12:02:00.005-04:00

Are you aware that there is a program to help people with Medicare get extra help to pay for the monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments related to the Medicare Prescription Drug program?

The program is through the Social Security Administration Office. You can apply online or call(1-800-772-1213) for help in completing the application. You must be enrolled in a Medicare Drug Plan, live in one of the 50 state or District of Columbia and meet income guidelines.

Your combined savings, investments, and real estate are not worth more than $25,260, if you are married and living with your spouse, or $12,640 if you are not currently married or not living with your spouse. (DO NOT include the home you live in, vehicles, personal possessions, burial plots, irrevocable burial contracts or back payments from Social Security or SSI.)

If you have more than those amounts, you may not qualify for the extra help. However, you can still enroll in an approved Medicare prescription drug plan for coverage.

EXCEPTION: Even if you meet these conditions, DO NOT complete this application if you have Medicare and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare and Medicaid because you automatically will get the extra help.

Here is the link to get more information and get started.
https://secure.ssa.gov/i1020/start

FDA offers 7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits, Vegetables

2011-09-14T15:40:00.007-04:00

Are you one of the more than 48 million people that are sickened by contaminated food this year?

Use these helpful tips to avoid sickness, suffering, and health care costs.

1. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce.

2. Cut away any damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating.

3. Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There’s no need to use soap or a produce wash.

4. Wash produce BEFORE you peel it, so dirt and bacteria aren't transferred from the knife onto the fruit or vegetable.

5. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers.

6.Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present.

7.Throw away the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.

You can view the entire article using this link.

Hospital billing contractor shares private health information on 20,000 Stanford ER patients

2011-09-09T13:30:00.006-04:00

This release of private health data should make you very concerned and eager to know more about your health care provider's security measures for your private health information. The exposed are unsuspecting Emergency room patients at Stanford Medical Hospital who had their information shared on a website call Student of Fortune (a pay for tutoring website). The information was shared publicly for 11 months and had names, diagnosis codes, account numbers, admission and discharge dates, and billing charges for patients seen at Stanford Hospital’s emergency room during a six-month period in 2009. Here is the original article for your review.

Concerned? You should be! Who knows who possesses this data, but the company website that hosted that information should definitely be able to tell who accessed it and how many times over the 11 month period.

Who's to blame? If Stanford had a written contract with Multi-Specialty Collection Services to protect the privacy of protected health information, the fault appears to rest with Multi-Specialty Collection Services according to this HHS Article.

Especially interesting though, is this section on the Health and Human Services Website:

How Is This Information Protected

Covered entities must put in place safeguards to protect your health information.
Covered entities must reasonably limit uses and disclosures to the minimum necessary to accomplish their intended purpose.
Covered entities must have contracts in place with their contractors and others ensuring that they use and disclose your health information properly and safeguard it appropriately.
Covered entities must have procedures in place to limit who can view and access your health information as well as implement training programs for employees about how to protect your health information.

It begs the question - why is a diagnosis needed for a billing contractor? Is it necessary to have that information (diagnosis code) in order to collect payment due for services? If it was the company that submits information to the insurance carriers, most definitely it would need it this data. However, this company sounds like a collection agency that is engaged to contact patients after the insurance portion has been paid or for remaining balances. So, does this flip the blame toward Stanford for giving too much information to a contractor?

What do you think about this latest breach?

Stop Medicare Fraud-They're Taking YOUR Money

2011-09-01T08:37:00.009-04:00

Medicare fraud can take shape in many forms. It basically is when Medicare is charged for a service or medical supply for something that was not given or supplied to the patient. Here are some examples on the StopMedicareFraud.gov website:

A health care provider bills Medicare for services you never received.
A supplier bills Medicare for equipment you never got.
Someone uses another person’s Medicare card to get medical care, supplies, or equipment.
Someone bills Medicare for home medical equipment after it has been returned.
A company offers a Medicare drug plan that has not been approved by Medicare.
A company uses false information to mislead you into joining a Medicare plan.

There are many other examples, such as duplicate billing, billing for a higher acuity than actual, requesting more visits than typical requirements (breaking a simple visit into two), and more.

They warn to Be suspicious of doctors, health care providers, or suppliers that do anything on this list:

Equipment or service is offered free and you are then asked for your Medicare number for “record keeping purposes”.
Medicare wants you to have the item or service in exchange for your Medicare number.
Tell you how to get Medicare to pay for the item or service and all that is needed is your Medicare number.
You are told the more tests provided, the cheaper the tests become in the future.
Don’t charge copayments without checking on your ability to pay.
Advertise “free” consultations to people with Medicare.
Call or visit you and say they represent Medicare or the Federal government.
Use telephone or door-to-door selling techniques.
Use pressure or scare tactics to sell you expensive medical services or diagnostic tests.
Bill Medicare for services you never received or a diagnosis you do not have.
Offer non-medical transportation or housekeeping as Medicare-approved services.
Bill home health services for patients who are not confined to their home, or for patients who still drive a car.
Bill Medicare for medical equipment for people in nursing homes.
Bill Medicare for tests you received as a hospital inpatient or within 72 hours of admission or discharge.
Bill Medicare for a power wheelchair or scooter when you don’t meet Medicare’s qualifications.

If you want to report fraud, the hotline is 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477)

http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/index.asp

or U.S. Mail tol:

Office of Inspector General
Department of Health & Human Services
ATTN: HOTLINE
PO Box 23489
Washington, DC 20026

Has anyone approached you in a public area and offered FREE services, groceries, or other items in exchange for your Medicare number?

JUST WALK AWAY!

Think it's not happening near you? Check out this list by state and see if you recognize providers in your area.

Milestones for your child's development

2011-08-31T23:47:00.008-04:00

The CDC has developed an excellent new guidebook that details by age groups milestones you child/grandchild should reach.

It offers information for social/emotional, language/communication, Cognitive (problem solving), and Movement/Physical Development.

The green bar at the bottom of each age group shows specific signs to look for and discuss with your pediatrician.

For example, the signs listed for your child at age 1 are:
Doesn’t crawl
Can’t stand when supported
Doesn’t search for things that she sees you hide
Doesn’t point to things
Doesn’t learn gestures like waving or shaking head
Doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada”
Loses skills he once had

The helpful guide gives tips on how you can help you child learn and grow.

Let me know what you think about this guide.

Sign up for Food Recall Notifications

2011-08-26T16:13:00.006-04:00

In this day, we have to be very careful about what lists we sign up for. One list I suggest everyone consider is the Current Recalls and Alerts list offered by the USDA. Cookies, dumplings, and cheesecake frozen yogurt mix are just a few of the current recalls.

Here's the link to sign up.

Or you can check back here often - I've included their widget so you know what the current recalls are.

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10,500 Serious Patient Falls and Trauma INSIDE U.S. hospitals

2011-08-24T16:20:00.002-04:00

When you think of a person getting hurt by falling, what scenario(s) immediately pop into your mind? Walking on ice, tripping over a rug, and broken concrete are just a few that came to mind. But have you ever thought about the dangers of patient falls inside a hospital?

Recently, CMS (Medicare) released statistics on the number of occurrences of targeted Hospital Acquired Conditions(HAC) which they hope to eliminate through decreased reimbursement. 38.6% or 10,500 of the 27,173 reported HACs are under the Falls and Trauma Category making the rate more than 28 patients a day.

The patient falls and trauma that are counted here are of the most serious nature. They include:

Fractures

Dislocations

Intracranial Injuries

Crushing Injuries

Burns

Electric Shock

The 10,500 count does not reflect all falls within a hospital. Those with lesser injuries such as abrasions(Scrapes), lacerations (cuts), and contusions(Bruises) are not counted in these statistics.

Now that you know that falls do happen to hospital patients inside the hospital, you may be wondering what you can do to make it safer experience for a loved one. Here are some tips learned during my participation on a fall reduction team (measuring and analyzing for trends and improvements) for a large health system.

1. Stay with your family member as much as possible. Arrange shifts with other family members so the patient is not left unattended. Full coverage should include the night shift when more falls occur due to dark lighting and frequent bathroom trips. If you can't be there, ask for a patient sitter.

2. Use equipment that makes toileting easier. Don't hesitate to use bedside commodes or bed pans.

3. Call for help when needed. Use the call button if you need to get out of bed and a nurse or nurse assistant can help.

4. Wear hospital-issued skid-proof socks at all times. They help with providing traction on the smooth floor.

5. Call housekeeping immediately if the floor is wet for any reason. Get assistance via the call light if you need to move around the wet floor before it is cleaned up properly.

6. Light the hospital room. Turn on the light, even at night, so you can see where you are going. IV's and monitor lines make getting out of bed difficult. A lighted room will help you assess your environment and avoid obstacles.

7. Ask for a bed alarm. Most hospitals already use this technology if the patient is a known fall risk. Many bed alarms allow you to program in a family member's voice reminding the patient to stay in the bed while a nurse or nurse attendant has been called.

Using these tips could save your loved one from a devastating fall in the hospital.

It is not convention for patients or their families to call 911 if a serious injury fall has occurred in the hospital. An internal investigation by the nurse, nurse manager, and quality department typically occurs. But what do you think would happen to the fall rate if police/fire were summoned for each of these 10,500 falls/injuries and took report?

2011 Wayne County Health and Safety Fun Fest

2011-08-17T12:00:00.003-04:00

The Wayne County Public Health Department(Michigan) is offering a FUN FEST to get kids ready to go back to school. The event runs 10am to 3pm Friday August 26, 2011 at the Wayne County Health Department on 33030 Van Born Road.

The giveaways include free book bags to first 300 kids.The fun doesn't stop there but includes Karaoke and bike, safety helmet, and child car seat giveaways too.

The health part of the fair will include:
Immunizations
Hearing and vision screening
Blood pressure
Dental screenings
HIV testing
Lead Testing

Information will also be available on several important topics including:
WIC (Women's Infants, and Children) Program
Breastfeeding
Head Start programs
Health and safety
Project Fresh - Vegetables and Fruit

Many agencies and community support groups will also be in attendance.

The event runs 10am to 3pm Friday August 19, 2011 at the Wayne County Health Department on 33030 Van Born Road.

Need more information about this event - call 734-727-7000.

Miss the event but still need immunizations and screening - contact Wayne County Public Health Department

What is a long term acute care hospital?

2011-08-17T10:00:00.003-04:00

What is a long term acute care hospital? Why would I need a long term acute care hospital? These questions are commonly asked when a physician orders a transfer to an LTAC.

Long term acute care hospitals (LTACH) provide intense treatment for patients who need at least 25 days of stay in a hospital. Long term acute care hospitals can be one of two types: a hospital within a hospital (HWH) or a standalone facility. There are more than 428 LTACHs nationwide. It used to be that the only patients you would find in a long term acute care hospital were ventilator dependent patients. Not so, anymore. These highly specialized hospitals also offer a quality care environment for wound care, ulcers, renal failure and respiratory distress patients such as those with COPD and pneumonia.

When are long term acute care hospitals considered for a patient?

Physicians typically consider transferring a patient from a short term to a long term acute care hospital when the patient doesn’t respond to treatment as expected. Common patient types transferred to long term hospitals include those:

Who require ventilator treatment and need to be weaned from being ventilator dependent.
With multiple admissions to hospitals with respiratory failure or COPD
With new tracheostomy post open heart or other surgery
With complex medical problems that result in frequent hospitalization

There are new quality reporting requirements for LTACs. More information to follow on these critical pieces of information.

Want advice from patient safety experts?

2011-08-09T10:23:00.003-04:00

Here's an excellent video, courtesy of safepatientproject.org.

A couple of tips from the video:

1. You are your own best patient advocate.

2. Have a family member advocate for you, if not hire one to help.

3. Keep a log and takes notes on everything: time, date, staff names, department, medication, procedure

What do you think about their advice? Would you take notes during your hospital stay? Would you tell a provider (doctor, nurse, lab) to wash their hands if you noticed they hadn't?

http://www.blog.wheretofindcare.com/2011/08/florida-leads-with-most-hospital.html

Florida leads with most hospital-acquired conditions in the nation

2011-08-08T22:36:00.010-04:00

Recently, Medicare released information that everyone should find helpful to know when choosing a hospital - the count of specific hospital-acquired conditions by hospital. While statisticians may appreciate the amount per 1,000 discharges, I find it more important to understand how many times people in that specific community encountered a hospital-acquired condition.

After all, they are not supposed to be occurring at all.

The hospital-acquired conditions included are:

Air Embolism

Blood Incompatibility

Catheter-Associated UTI

Falls and Trauma

Foreign Object Retained After Surgery

Manifestation of Poor Glycemic Control

Pressure Ulcer (Sores) Stages III and IV and

Vascular Catheter-Associated Infection.

The following list is based on discharges October 1, 2008 through June 30, 2010, a 21 month period.

Rank	State	Count of Hospital Acquired Conditions
1	Florida	2115
2	New York	2035
3	Texas	2020
4	California	1983
5	Pennsylvania	1309
6	New Jersey	1111
7	Illinois	1096
8	Ohio	1014
9	North Carolina	953
10	Michigan	933
11	Georgia	839
12	Virginia	787
13	Tennessee	731
14	Missouri	687
15	Alabama	598
16	Massachusetts	586
17	Indiana	563
18	Wisconsin	545
19	Kentucky	510
20	Washington	488
21	South Carolina	474
22	Oklahoma	426
23	Arizona	417
24	Arkansas	403
25	Conneticut	391
26	Minnesota	386
27	Louisiana	379
28	Mississippi	356
29	Colorado	342
30	Kansas	302
31	West Virgina	246
32	Iowa	225
33	Nevada	203
34	Oregon	195
35	Nebraska	190
36	Maine	163
37	New Hampshire	156
38	New Mexico	132
39	Utah	124
40	Rhode Island	102
41	Delaware	100
42	South Dakota	86
43	Washington	80
44	Hawaii	76
45	Montana	69
46	North Dakota	69
47	Idaho	66
48	Vermont	45
49	Alaska	37
50	Wyoming	30

Does any of it surprise you? Would you like to see more information - like at the hospital level? Please share your thoughts.

http://www.blog.wheretofindcare.com/2011/08/want-advice-from-patient-safety-experts.html

National Health Center Week 2011

2011-08-07T14:16:00.022-04:00

President Obama has declared this week National Health Center Week. Here is an excerpt from his proclamation released Friday, August 5th.
"Across our Nation, over 19 million Americans look to community health centers for medical checkups, education, advice, and critical services that keep them healthy. Throughout National Health Center Week, we recommit to supporting this vital resource for underserved communities, and we recognize the critical role community health centers play in our health-care system.

Every day, men, women, and children find help at community health centers. These centers lead the way in providing high-quality services at an affordable cost, while lifting up the quality of life for their patients. We see the results among Medicaid beneficiaries -- those receiving care from a health center are less likely to be unnecessarily hospitalized or visit an emergency room. We also see the effects in rural areas with community health centers, where hospitals see fewer uninsured emergency room visits."

You can search FQHCs - federally qualified health centers right here on WhereToFindCare.com using this link.

Where To Find Care is the only place you can find patient satisfaction scores on federally qualified health centers. The current overall score given to FQHCs across the nation is 75.88 (scale of 0 to 100,with 0 being the lowest score), and 77% stating they would recommend this center to others.

All FQHCs are invited to use the esurvey system on WhereToFindCare.com for FREE for excellent timely feedback from patients and their families.

Patients and families are invited to Rate their care by completing a short survey at Rate A Provider

Wasting my time in a doctors office

2011-07-16T11:02:00.006-04:00

While they may have comfortable chairs, interesting magazines, and beautiful artwork on the walls, a doctor's waiting room is no place for me on my day off. I like to get in as close to my appointment time as possible, be seen, and then be on my way to my next to-do item. I have dropped doctors that made me wait too long, especially with sick kids.

Here are a few other patients who are frustrated with waiting in the doctor's office:

(Internal Medicine in NY) I have been a patient of this doctor for a few years and since the move to the new location- patient care has not been the same. The staff, which is new, is neither friendly, helpful or empathic. The wait time just to check averages at least 10-20 minutes and the wait then to actually see the doctor is an average of 30-45 minutes. I have no issue with a wait to see my pcp but anything over an hour (my last wait was 65 minutes)shows a lack of respect for the patient.

Basically, the wait is ridiculous. The office staff is not only rude and puts you on hold for ridiculous amounts of time, they also do not have the courtesy to call patients and let them know when Dr. is running late (which he usually is! He often saunters in at least an hr and a 1/2 late!).

How long will you wait before you say something to the office staff or physician?

Sometimes physicians don't realize how long their patients have been waiting. The patient comment above has a great idea about calling patients when the doctor is running 90 minutes behind.

But, would you keep the appointment if you got a call and was told the physician was running behind?

Doctor cuts off patient when telling symptoms

2011-07-15T12:00:00.004-04:00

Have you ever been in a situation where you are in the doctor's exam room and the doctor doesn't give you the opportunity to tell them the reason you are there?

Two patients commented about this exact issue over the past week:

"Within two minutes of walking into the room he (Dermatologist in Arizona) diagnosed me with acne, without asking any questions about my symptoms or condition. If he would have given his client more then two minutes of his time, he might have realized he had inaccurately diagnosed the condition. When I tried to politely explain why I was there, he cut me off, claiming he was offended that I question his authority. He will spend minimal time and not answer questions.

"I respect his talents and medical background (Urologist in Maine), but find he can be very short when discussing patient concerns. Has raised his voice to make a point, cutting me off about my concerns."

Would you continue to go to a doctor that didn't listen to you?

Specialty doctors depend on referrals from primary physicians. Would you tell your primary care physician that the doctor they referred you to had poor interpersonal skills (rude, raises voice, etc)?

I love my doctor but the office staff needs to go

2011-06-17T13:00:00.002-04:00

According to recent surveys submitted on WhereToFindCare.com, patients are having bad experiences with front end staff and office assistants/managers. There is no trend - rudeness is not limited to a specific type of provider nor area of the country.

Here are some of the more recent encounters from patients like you:

While the quality of the care during the procedure was professional, the attention I received from their billing department was not. I called the billing department before the procedure to verify the codes used to bill my insurance company and never received a return call. After the procedure and the provider's billing to the insurance company, I again called the billing department, because I believed they had billed it incorrectly, and still did not receive a return call.

The staff was the worst! Billing was always wrong! They wouldn't do anything to make it better.I would call, fax and bring in proper info, and the next visit it would be the same thing... We are missing your insur. info. I really wanted to keep going for the Dr. The Dr. was great. His staff needs help!

On 6-10-11, I was there for a DXA scan. When my husband and I got there, the employees peeked out of an opened slit in the frosted glass window to see who was coming in the door. -All I saw was one eye looking at me. When I walked up to the larger open window to sign in and give them my Rx for the scan, the receptionist was polite enough, but she was and two other employees were very 'loud' the entire time we were there. They were talking about going to the carnival & playing the ring toss game

My son was stung by a man of war, it blistered and he was in pain, the front desk at Edgewater Resort recommended Emerald Coast Urgent Care two blocks away. The woman at the front desk provided the single worst health care experience I have ever had (and my husband is a doctor). The doctor at the facility was excellent, but I would not recommend this facility.

Have a bad experience with office staff? Tell the doctor (or other health care practitioner) about your experience. Unless they know, they won't be able to do anything about it. Doctors don't want to lose their patients over a misunderstanding or a rude staff member. You may not be the first one to bring it to their attention, but you may be the patient that makes it better for the next patient.

And be sure to rate your care on WhereToFindCare.com. You will be helping others in your community find quality health care providers.