Fwd: Daily Dose - Don't pick up the phone

phone health?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: WC Douglass <realhealth@healthiernews.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Subject: Daily Dose - Don't pick up the phone
To: holcrest@worldchat.com

Daily Dose Why am I getting this? Cell phone dangers continue to add up Dear Friend, Let me let you in on a little secret. Forget cigarettes and secondhand smoke. If you want to know what will cause of the death of our society, look no further than that little piece of technology you think you can't live without: your cell phone. I'm not even talking about the death of social etiquette -- though more than a few cell phone users could use a class in how to act appropriately in public. (Maybe I'll write a book on the subject.) No, I'm talking about the very real danger of propping a microwave-generating piece of hardware less than an inch from your brain for hours on end, day in and day out. Plenty of neurosurgeons have gone on the record saying that they never place their cell phones directly to their ears. And when you look at the case against them, it's no wonder! Consider this... In 2005, European researchers linked a decade of cell phone use to as much as a four-percent increase in the likelihood of developing permanent, brain-damaging tumors of the auditory nerve. A 2002 Finnish study linked the type of radiation emitted by cell phones to adverse effects on brain tissue. Research on British males theorizes that cell phone use could be the cause of Britain's precipitous decline in male fertility. Some doctors even speculate Sen. Ted Kennedy's brain tumor may have been caused by excessive cell phone use. And that's just been after 10 years or so. Imagine the threat our kids and grandkids will be facing 15, 20, and 50 years from now. It's chilling. Of course, the warnings are falling on deaf ears -- or at least on ears that are covered up by a little piece of tumor-causing technology. More likely, people don't want to hear about the dangers because they think they can't live without their precious cell phones. The media isn't helping matters, either. Instead of making these very real, very life- threatening dangers front-page news, this is the headline you're more likely to see: "Cell phone elbow: New sign of the times." Yes, you read that right. The major cell phone danger plastering headlines is that it could be a pain in your elbow. Well, news like this is just a pain in my you-know-what. Is it a legitimate condition? I'm sure it is. If you do any action repetitively enough, you're going to wear down the muscles, ligaments or tendons involved. But if there's any silver lining to this cellular cloud, it's this: Maybe -- just maybe -- in an effort to avoid "cell phone elbow," people will be less likely to hold these "cancer boxes" up to their ears. The easiest option is to use the speakerphone option on your cell phone. You could also get a Bluetooth earpiece or a wired headset with a ferrite bead. Of course, the best option of all is just to not use a cell phone to begin with. When life imitates art While cell phone use continues to grow in popularity, an old habit that was once a teen rite of passage is on the decline: smoking. One study says this could be because there are less people shown smoking in today's movies. The lead author of the study, Dr. James Sargent, a pediatrics professor at Dartmouth, says that "reducing smoking in the movies probably helped to reduce rates of smoking in kids." Talk about wishful thinking. Dr. Sargent fails to take into account that there's not just less smoking in movies. There's less smoking in day-to-day life in general. Kids of earlier generations grew up with their parents and grandparents and many of the adults in their lives smoking -- not just on screen. Smoking wasn't necessarily seen as glamorous. It was merely a fact of adult behavior. That is, until every doctor under the sun started to demonize it. Thankfully, the researchers themselves acknowledge that the study cannot prove a direct correlation between the drop in smokers portrayed in movies and the drop in teen smoking. Then again, if the research is right, maybe we need to lobby for movies to show fewer people using cell phones. Calling on you to hang up your cell phone, William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. KISS THOSE DIETING BLUES GOODBYE! There is emerging evidence that two all-natural plant extracts can help you ignite your metabolism, promote your body's natural ability to burn fat, encourage weight loss, and perhaps best of all...it can help you manage stress and improve your mood! Over 25,000 men and women around the globe are using this time-tested method to help shed unwanted pounds. Without starvation. Without misery. Learn how to boost your energy and wipe away the dieting "blues." http://clicks.douglassreport.com//t/AQ/LxI/MtY/XAg/AQ/AmRRXw/rPrB Interested in receiving Dr. William C. Douglass' highly acclaimed monthly newsletter -- and FREE bonus gifts? Call (915) 849-4615 or visit http://clicks.douglassreport.com//t/AQ/LxI/MtY/C+Q/AQ/AmRRXw/3o_1 To start receiving your own copy of the Daily Dose, visit: http://clicks.douglassreport.com//t/AQ/LxI/MtY/C+U/AQ/AmRRXw/8EN- Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive their own copy of the Daily Dose. Daily Dose readers can now tap into the minds of other health-conscious readers at http://clicks.douglassreport.com//t/AQ/LxI/MtY/C4Y/AQ/AmRRXw/bINK Copyright (c)2009 by www.douglassreport.com, L.L.C. The Daily Dose may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. Please note: We sent this e-mail to: holcrest@worldchat.com because you subscribed to this service. Manage your subscription: To end your Daily Dose subscription...visit this address: Unsubscribe Here To manage your subscription by mail or for any other subscription issues, write us at: Order Processing Center Attn: Customer Service P.O. Box 925 Frederick, MD 21705 USA

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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown

backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care

Gmail - Daily Dose - 4 tips for battling stress - siegholle@gmail.com

Gmail - Daily Dose - 4 tips for battling stress - siegholle@gmail.com

4 tips for battling stress

They won't make stress go away, and they're not exactly the equivalent of a two-week Mediterranean cruise, but they'll help.

GET ANGRY

When you bottle things up, you're just adding to the pile of cumulative stress. I'm not saying you need to flip out and scream at everyone around you, but when the going gets tough, it doesn't mean that you should just nod quietly and accept your bad luck. By asserting yourself and your opinion without losing control, you're actually venting stress.

SHIFT YOUR FOCUS

Get a hobby, or don't be shy about throwing yourself into the one that you already have. By concentrating your mind on the thing that brings you the most joy, you're actually sloughing off stress, and giving your mind and body the time to recover. It's like a mini- vacation.

PUT THE CLOCK TO WORK FOR YOU

Nothing's more stressful than a deadline, and it only gets worse the closer it gets. If you can turn yourself in a better time manager, even the biggest project can be tackled with less stress.

LAUGH OR CRY

Yup, another cliché. But like so many, it's true. Both laughing and crying are enormously effective ways to vent stress. Emotions are there for a reason: use them. Bottling them up leads to more stress.

Invitation to view sieg's Picasa Web Album - Knights -street hockey tournament -june 09

You are invited to view sieg's photo album: Knights -street hockey tournament -june 09 Knights -street hockey tournament -june 09 Apr 1, 2007 by sieg quality 24/7 elder care community View Album Play slideshow If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/sredir?uname=BTECaregivers&target=ALBUM&id=5344962894576583457&authkey=Gv1sRgCLLW3ebTmqrmEg&invite=COrflcQC&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

PROVINCE SLOWLY SQUEEZING US DRY - Chatham Daily News - Ontario, CA#postbox

PROVINCE SLOWLY SQUEEZING US DRY - Chatham Daily News - Ontario, CA#postbox

It appears that the intelligent natives are getting restless- Pr

Reminder: Sieg invited you to join Facebook...

facebook Hi, The following person recently invited you to be their friend on Facebook: Sieg Holle 43 friends 1 photo   Other people you may know on Facebook: Morley Evans Regina, SK Phil McColeman Brad Quast Hamilton, ON Robert James Patrick Isabell Mintert Germany Geraldine Howe Horvath   Facebook is a great place to keep in touch with friends, post photos, videos and create events. But first you need to join! Sign up today to create a profile and connect with the people you know. Thanks, The Facebook Team Facebook is free and anyone can join. Sign Up To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/r.php?re=31e705444bc38c3fd802d03ae6fb73a6&mid=95a861G68f25e94G5792dG46 This message was intended for q-jumpers.belinda@blogger.com. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click here to unsubscribe. Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

Better Meetings in Less Time

Better Meetings in Less Time Stuart R. Levine Stuart Levine & Associates LLC eetings can be big time wasters. Whether it's a meeting of family members, work colleagues or a volunteer group, here's how to get more out of a meeting in less time... Define an end time. Setting a firm end time keeps a meeting on track. When the pace lags, remind those present how much time is left. "Let's move along -- we have only 30 minutes left." If you're not in charge of the meeting, tell the person who is in charge that you have to leave at a certain time and then alert him/her when you have, say, 30 minutes left. Match the message to the audience. Don't explain things the way you would want them explained -- explain them the way your listeners need to hear them. Consider your audience's priorities, level of expertise and familiarity with industry jargon before you speak. Example: A client probably doesn't want a long-winded explanation about why his delivery is late -- he just wants to know when his order will arrive. Add the explanation only if one is requested. Forget consensus. If you wait for everyone in a group to agree on a course of action, you might be waiting forever. Before you ask for opinions, explain how the decision will be made. Will you move forward when there's a majority? Or will you consider all input but pick whatever direction you think best? Opt out when you're not needed. Does a two-hour meeting involve you only peripherally? Ask another participant to call you when you're needed. In the meantime, do something more productive nearby. Use a story to illustrate a point. Busy people often omit anecdotes to speed things along, but most listeners understand and remember stories better than they do instructions, facts or figures. Just make sure the story is engrossing, focused and relevant. A good time to use a story is to show a human face when you are presenting a lot of data. Example: If you are explaining the importance of quality outcomes in a hospital setting, it would be helpful to tell the story of a specific patient who benefited from increased quality of care. Say "I got it" when you've heard enough. If you ask a question, as soon as you understand the answer, tell the speaker "Thanks, I got it," so he/she knows to move on. Ask those you deal with regularly to do the same with you. This saves time and keeps everyone's mind sharp. When we sit through explanations of things we already understand, we tune out and lose our mental edge. Don't get bogged down in details when negotiating. One of the secrets of negotiation is to know when to stop. Unless you're negotiating an international peace treaty, once you get past the two or three most important issues, the rest is just details that can be worked out at a different time. If you continue to debate these minor points, you'll waste time -- and you might put big issues at risk for the sake of small ones. Debrief yourself after meetings, presentations and events. Your personal two-to-five-minute debriefing session immediately after a meeting can save hours later. While events are still fresh in your mind, ask yourself... What did I/we do right? What did I/we do wrong? What's the next step I/we need to take? Schedule another meeting? Send a memo? Do a particular task?

Have a good day, be well and take care
" a simple natural lifestyle and a chuckle a day keeps the doctor away'

- additional interactive resources are at our Back to Eden site-

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spring tips

Dr. Rubman notes that sexual concerns may also be a sign of problems elsewhere in the body. For instance, erectile dysfunction is often one of the earliest signs of cardiovascular disease in men. And for both genders, problems in the large intestine or urinary tract may end up disturbing sexual function. (We recently covered this connection from a male point of view inDaily Health News, January 5, 2009... from a women's perspective, Daily Health News, February 2, 2009.)

HOW TO GET A MORE SATISFYING SEX LIFE

Among the strategies Dr. Rubman recommends:

• Quell inflammation. Imbalances in the pelvic-abdominal region may be related to inflammatory disturbances that disrupt microbial colonies in the genital-urinary and lower gastrointestinal tracts. To correct this imbalance and restore digestive and immune health, which in turn support sexuality, Dr. Rubman prescribes probiotics such asLactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Also helpful to this end is to cut back on sugar, white breads, dairy products, trans fats and fried foods... eat protein at every meal ... and two or three times a week enjoy cold-water fish such as salmon or tuna, rich in omega-3 fatty acids. A good over-the-counter option is Nordic Naturals (www.nordicnaturals.com). Dr. Rubman often prescribes PharMax Finest Pure Fish Oil (www.pharmaxllc.com) to his patients.

• Ease vaginal dryness or thinning. Dr. Rubman prescribes a variety of topical low-dose bioidentical hormonal products, botanical extracts and supplements.

• Relax and take a deep breath -- literally. Dr. Rubman suggests making a habit of consciously breathing deeply at every available opportunity -- when waiting for the light to change, when you ride the elevator, each time you sit at your desk -- whatever pattern works for you. Excess anxiety raises blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and impedes the body's ability to manufacture the estrogen and testosterone which are vital to sexual response. Dr. Rubman's favorite breathing technique is the meditative deep breathing exercises of pranayama yoga, which fuel your natural balance, energy and sexuality. Read more about these techniques at Yoga Point (www.yogapoint.com) and Pranayama -- The Art of Yoga Breathing (www.abc-of-yoga.com).

• Exercise. Regular workouts not only clear your mind and improve your mood, they make you feel better about your body -- often a libido boost. Aerobic activity such as brisk walking, biking or dancing also increases blood flow to organs, including the sexual ones.

• Practice Kegel exercises. To enhance pelvic muscle control and thus sexual satisfaction, Dr. Rubman recommends daily Kegel exercises for both men and women. Learn to locate and isolate pubococcygeus (PC) muscles by interrupting urine flow next time you go to the bathroom. Next, three or four times a day, strengthen your PC muscles by alternately clenching and releasing them for five to 10 seconds at a time. Learn how to perfect your Kegel technique at www.mayoclinic.com.

• Date your partner. Use novelty to break up humdrum routines. For instance, steal away for a romantic weekend or fashion your own "stay-vacation" at home. Take a long walk together in the park or on the beach, buy lavender oil for a shared bath, light an aromatherapy candle, enjoy a leisurely dinner (make sure to go light on the sleep-inducing carbs) and see what happens. Read about romantic recipes to "feed the soul" at www.theromantic.com.

• Yohimbe bark extract. In cases of specific sexual dysfunction, Dr. Rubman prescribes an extract of the botanical medicine yohimbe, derived from the bark of an evergreen tree in West Africa. This medicine can be taken by either men or women to stimulate desire. Dr. Rubman prescribes it in drop form, available from Scientific Botanicals. (Note: If you have high blood pressure, kidney problems or a psychiatric disorder, do not use yohimbe.)

In the long run, making adjustments toward a healthier lifestyle -- fitting in more exercise, eating healthier foods, spending more time with your partner and less time at the office -- will do a lot more for your sex life than taking a pill. That way, says Dr. Rubman, when the moment is right, you'll be ready.

Source(s): 

Andrew L. Rubman, ND, director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut.

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Have a good day, be well and take care
" a simple natural lifestyle and a chuckle a day keeps the doctor away'

- additional interactive resources are at our Back to Eden site-

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letting go and true love

True love is like quick-silver," said Ann Landers, "if you hold it in the palm of your hand, it will remain. If you try to grasp it, it will slip through your fingers." Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when he said, "Whoever will save his life will lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it."

Some parents never let go of their children even when they are adults. Out of their own insecurity they cling to their offspring and smother them. In so doing they drive them away and the thing they need the most—love—they lose. As the saying goes, "If you love someone, let them go; if they come back to you, then they are truly yours. If they don't, they never were."

In other words, when we cling to life to live for ourselves or cling to someone else for our own sake out of our own need, we lose what we need the most—love. This is because we have mistaken need for love. Only as we let go of clinging are we free to love and live life to the full.

When we do this and truly love, we give love without strings attached. In so doing we receive more love to give.

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backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care

Fwd: Welcome to the latest issue of CARP Action Online!

useful information on issues and surveys  

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: CARP <support@carp.ca>
Date: Fri, May 1, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Subject: Welcome to the latest issue of CARP Action Online!
To: siegholle@gmail.com

May 1, 2009 Welcome to the latest Edition of CARP Action Online! This issue is a Health Care Special, please take a minute to fill out Our Special Health Care Survey. We also have an update on pension reform where we recently took our message on pension reform! Also, check out Zoomermag: The Online Magazine For Grown Ups visit our new beta site at: http://zoomermag.com. Electronic Health Records Update A popular trend in health care these days is the concept known as electronic health records (EHR). Proponents of EHR claim that the successful implementation of this scheme will streamline our health care delivery system, making it more efficient and cost effective... Read more   Hypertension A Silent Killer Did you know that high blood pressure, or hypertension, is the most common diagnosis for office-based doctor visits in Canada? Over one-quarter of the Canadian population has hypertension, and 90% of adults will develop high blood pressure if they live to an average lifespan.Read more..   Men's Health: Protect Yourself Against Prostate Cancer One in six. Those are the odds. This year, one of six Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, the most common cancer among Canadian men... Read more   The Innovation Cell: Patient-Led Innovation The new Health Strategy Innovation Cell ("Innovation Cell") focuses on low-cost, low-tech solutions to make the user experience in healthcare perfect...Read more   Incontinence Coalition calls on government leaders to help de-stigmatize the condition and improve access to care Members of The Incontinence Coalition endorsed a letter to Federal and Provincial Ministers of Health urging greater recognition of the prevalent and chronic condition of incontinence. Incontinence affects more than 3 million Canadians and is a chronic condition that carries a stigma.Read more   Previous Issues April 13, 2009 March 26th 2009 March 13th 2009 February 27, 2009 February 13th, 2009 January 27th 2009 January 16th 2009 [MORE] Red tape update The issue of reimbursement for out of country medial services has come to symbolize the madness that is the current state of our healthcare system... Read more   Primary health care teams The Health Council of Canada recently released a report to update Canadians on the status of primary health care teams in the country. Released in late April, Teams in Action: Primary Health Care Teams for Canadians is a follow-up report on a plan implemented by Canadian governments in 2004 to ensure that 50 per cent of all Canadians would receive support from health care teams by the year 2011. Read more   If you experience problems completing the survey, please fill it in here Health Care Survey 1. How do you access health care? Have a family doctor who practices alone Have a family doctor who practices with others who I do not interact with Have a family doctor who practices in a Primary Health Care Team with other medical professionals who I see as well, including nurse-practitioners, nutritionists, social workers, etc. Do not have a family doctor/use the hospital/ walk-in clinics/emergency room 2. How many of the following chronic health conditions - arthritis, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or mood disorders/depression - do you have None One only Two Three or more 3. Does your health care provider give you the full range of services that you require? Yes No 4. How would you rate the quality of the health care you receive? Excellent Good Fair Poor Terrible 5. The federal and provincial governments committed to having 50% of Canadians cared for by multidisciplinary Primary Health Care Teams by 2011. Do you believe this goal will be achieved? Yes No DON'T KNOW 6. a) If you had to seek medical care outside Canada should the Canadian public health care system reimburse you…? Without conditions Under limited circumstances Never 6.b) If you had to seek medical care outside Canada, do you think this reimbursement… Should require prior approval May be approved after treatment is started or completed Should not require approval, just referral from a Canadian doctor 7. Which region do you live in? Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies BC/Territories 8. What size community do you live in? 500,000 or more 30,000 to 500,000 10,000 to 30,000 Less than 10,000   [See Results] Driving Researchers Need Your Help In Finding Ways To Keep Older Drivers Behind The Wheel Are you over 70, own a 1996 or newer vehicle and drive at least once a week? Candrive needs participants for an important research study...Read more   Send to a friend Click here to send this newsletter to a friend Pension Reform: CARP Takes Your Proposals to Ottawa, Squares off Against Employers Who Say Pensioners Shouldn't Have a Say Susan Eng, CARP VP of Advocacy headed to Parliament Hill last week for an appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. We took the opportunity to highlight the need for immediate action to repair Canada's pension system and bold leadership...Read more   Point/Counterpoint James Pierlot's Pension Reform In the last edition of CARP Action Online we published a column by noted pension analyst James Pierlot. One of our readers disagreed with Mr. Pierlot's thesis and issued us a challenge to publish his response to the column. Given that this person raised some worthwhile questions, we accepted - but not without giving Mr. Pierlot the chance to respond to his critic...Read more   UPP Survey Analysis CARP extends its thanks to the nearly 4000 people who took the time to let us know what they thought of our proposal for a Universal Pension Plan. We brought your views to Ottawa to share them with the Finance Subcommittee last week when we argued for pension reform to protect the rights of retirees. Read more   Submit your Nominations for CARP's 25th Anniversary "Top 25 Canadians Award" Submit your Nominations for CARP's 25th Anniversary "Top 25 Canadians Award" "I can think of a dozen people who could be nominated" says General Richard Rohmer. Gail Hinchliffe says she too can think of several people deserving of the honour. And Dr. Colin Powell, who practices Geriatric Medicine at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, says he meets people on a weekly basis who are worthy of the nomination. Read more.   50&Più Olympiad 2009: Package Offer for AARP Global Network Member Organization's members Our friends at 50&Più Turismo (a subsidiary of 50&Più, an AARP Global Network member) are offering a 9 day/8 night travel package to visit Rome, Italy to participate at the 50&Più Olympiad 2009 in the southern Italian province of Puglia. Read more   Published by CARP Copyright © 2009 CARP, A New Vision of Aging for Canada. All rights reserved.

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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown

backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care

HEALTH CARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

HEALTH CARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

You may have noticed the emergence of some unique kinds of medical practices over the past few years -- for instance, concierge practices, micropractices and, most recently, online medical services. I thought it might be helpful to review some of these new business models for medical practices, in order to examine the pluses and minuses for each. I spoke with Jessie Gruman, PhD, founder and president of the Center for Advancing Health, an independent, non-profit Washington-based policy institute, for her insights.

First and foremost, Dr. Gruman stressed how important it is for consumers to understand what kind of care they actually will receive from each type of service -- what you are buying and what the limits are. She urges patients to read the fine print and ask plenty of questions. Apart and aside from the quality of care, make sure you are clear on such practical matters as...

• Whether or not the practice accepts your insurance.

• The qualifications, training and hospital affiliations of the physicians and other health professionals.

• The amount of the annual fee, if any, and what it does and does not cover.

• The contractual obligations of the doctor and the practice -- for example, your doctor's role if you are diagnosed with a serious illness.

• The hospital with which the doctor is affiliated and whether your insurance is accepted there.

• What happens if your physician leaves the practice before your contract expires.

• The process to follow if you have a complaint about care or services.

NEW MODELS OF MEDICAL CARE

Personalized/concierge practices are designed to give you extended and personalized care and greater access to your doctor -- including 24/7 pager/phone access and same day and longer appointments. Patients sign a contract and pay a monthly or an annual fee, typically in addition to other charges (i.e., your normal co-payments and deductibles). These fees are highly variable depending on the level and type of service, but generally do not cover specialist visits, laboratory tests, medical procedures, prescriptions, hospitalizations or emergency room visits. The leading company in the field, Florida-based network MDVIP (www.mdvip.com), has a typical annual fee of $1,500 per adult patient and an upper limit for practice size of 600 patients per physician. In upscale communities like New York City many doctors with a concierge practice charge twice that or more... luxe boutiques in places like Miami Beach and Beverly Hills may have fees that exceed $100,000 (and include extravagant perks). Critics charge that concierge medicine is exclusionary and elitist, since not everyone can afford it, but Dr. Gruman points out that our medical system is already multi-tiered. If you can afford it and believe you would benefit from this kind of certain, focused medical attention, it is worth exploring the options available to you locally, she said.

Medical home practices are a new model of primary care that also attempts to address the problems concierge care was developed to solve -- simplifying, centralizing and supervising what would otherwise be complicated, chaotic health care delivery. The concept was originally developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1967 as a way to coordinate children's medical records in a central location... the term is now more broadly applied to describe a health care setting that provides "accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate and culturally effective care."

A medical home provides both preventive and sick/urgent care, similar to a concierge practice but without the annual fee, explains Dr. Gruman. The goal is to offer patients an ongoing relationship with a personal primary care physician who knows you and your medical history, provides as many services as possible at a one-stop location and coordinates care with other physician specialists as necessary. This is a specialized niche at present -- primary care medical homes are a relatively new phenomenon, not widely available. Some medical home practices focus on people with one or more chronic conditions, while others are gaining popularity due to interest of large companies for their employees.

Micropractices describe medical offices committed to delivering patient care via a high-tech, low overhead model. Doctors may answer their own phones and give patients their cell phone number and e-mail address to expedite communication. One doctor does it all -- sometimes with the help of a nurse or other medical assistant and lots of technology, such as electronic medical records, automated billing, e-prescribing, e-mail reminders for appointments, lab tests and prescriptions and sometimes even online consultations for non-urgent concerns. Dr. Gruman says this type of practice may be a good choice for healthy, relatively young people who only have minor complaints, such as occasional colds or earaches -- but she believes older people, families with young children and those with one or more chronic health conditions are better served by a general practitioner, family doctor or pediatrician who can provide stability and continuity of care.

The "mobile medical practice" has roots in the time when doctors traveled by horse and buggy to visit patients in their homes. Such house calls have made a (small) comeback today, since Medicare increased allowable reimbursement for them in 1998. In many cases, there's no physical office at all -- doctors can run their business from a home office, utilizing a specially equipped vehicle to bring tools and technology to patients in their homes. Demand for this type of care is likely to rise as our population ages, and proponents say that in the long run, home care for this group will cost less than repeated visits to the emergency room, hospitalizations and nursing home care. One of the leading house-call medical practices in the US is Visiting Physicians (http://www.visitingphysicians.com/), which provides primary care through home visits in Michigan, Texas, Kentucky, Florida, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Online or telemedicine medical services offer a variety of ways for patients to interact with physicians via the Internet -- these may or may not be covered by health insurance. One company, called American Well (at present available only in Hawaii), connects patients whose records are posted on Microsoft's Health Vault to physicians through [online video or chat or by telephone.] Doctors use the technology to provide follow-up care, referrals, advice or even to prescribe medication at a fee of $10 for a session for patients enrolled in Hawaii's Blue Cross Blue Shield, $45 for non-members. Other companies, including SwiftMD and TelaDoc, offer similar "telemedicine" programs in other states. Perhaps there is a role for this type of medical care, but Dr. Gruman cautions that little is known about the quality of care patients receive with this model.

Whatever type of health care delivery you choose, your goal should be to forge a strong and long-lasting relationship with a primary care practitioner you trust and respect and who has your interests at heart. Especially in this uncertain era, access to skilled, consistent and coordinated care is what's most important.

Note: Even in more traditional medical practices, an increasing number of doctors will provide an e-mail or phone consult to patients on a fee-for-service basis. Inquire about the fee and insurance arrangements before you commit.

Source(s): 

Jessie Gruman, PhD, founder and president of the Center for Advancing Health, (www.cfah.org) an independent, non-profit Washington-based policy institute. Dr. Gruman is on the faculty of the School of Public Health and Health Services at The George Washington University and serves on the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Public Health Institute. She is author of AfterShock: What to Do When the Doctor Gives You -- or Someone You Love -- a Devastating Diagnosis (Walker).

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Have a good day, be well and take care
" a simple natural lifestyle and a chuckle a day keeps the doctor away'

- additional interactive resources are at our Back to Eden site-

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ProActive Rants: Tax Action: 22 Years of Pork

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Home office tips

good self improvement jogs from Diamond traders

Work From Home

Whether by choice or by default many of us are working from home these days. Many people however encounter difficulties as productivity and work often suffer; they get distracted by daily life or other people who believe they’re not doing anything important (otherwise you would be somewhere else…not home). If you are one of these people here are a few things you need to know to get your tasks done effectively and efficiently so you can get on with your life.

Create a home office: by doing this you are physically and mentally establishing an environment where you can get some real work done. One location where the activity that you carry out is work; you can reach your phone work on the computer find your stationary and supplies nothing will get in the way of your progress faster than rolling out of bed with your laptop to go and find the stapler in the kitchen to staple the files that are printing presently in your dining room.

Time Management: decide what time you are going to allot to work and work during those hours. While working at home allows you the freedom to work on your own time to much free reign might have you procrastinating and then struggling to get things done at the last minute. Make your self a schedule that works for you whether it’s a 4 day or 4 hour work week and stick to it. Minimize Distractions: TV’s, Video games, to loud music or other people can distract you from your work. If necessary work with out these distractions in or near your work space.

Get a second line: while this may be an additional cost initially it far out ways the costs of missing an important call because your teenager was in the midst of some juicy gossip. A phone line established for your business alone can keep your work separate from home life.

Dress for the office: while the allure of working in your pajamas might be all too tempting, dressing for work can you put you in a productive state of mind. Suit and tie is probably not necessary but business casual dress attire might put you in a working frame of mind.

Get out of the house: working at home and living at home can become tedious and de-motivating if you do not take time to get some fresh air and perspective. Do something out of the house daily in order the keep your mental health in check; take a garden lunch break or go for a walk around the neighborhood, it will revitalize your mind and get you ready to work some more.

Keep in contact: once in your house do not become a home body and loose contact with your social network, some face time with friends, family or colleagues will keep you healthy and probably help you live longer. Set boundaries: if you are working from home make sure people know that this is important and that your do not disturb sign or quiet time restrictions need to be respected. Also make boundaries for your self just because you work at home does not mean you have to take work home with you.

Make time for you and your family!

Use Your Mood to Improve the World

Use Your Mood to Improve the World

Good health can be both the cause and consequence of being happy. That's why two pioneering scientists wanted to see if they could actually measure how happiness works in groups. What they discovered took everyone by happy surprise -- the happiness of others, even those you don't know, has a direct influence on your happiness.
 
The coauthor of this novel study on happiness, James Fowler, PhD, told me how the research was done. First his team combed through the records of 5,000 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, many of whom had identified one another as spouses, friends or neighbors. His team established a happiness baseline for these participants by checking their periodic answers to questions regarding their happiness over the past 20 years (1983 to 2003). Then they used a sophisticated statistical analysis tool to create a map of social connections among the initial 5,000 and other participants within the Framingham study. It showed how one person's happiness rippled like a network, creating a cascade of happiness that increased the likelihood of others being happy too.
They discovered that there were various degrees of influence depending on the degree of social connection and that it was quite predictable. For example, within your social network, the happiness of someone with whom you have frequent and regular personal contact, called an immediate social contact (for instance, your spouse or closest nearby friend), increases the likelihood of your happiness by an average of 15%. The happiness of a second-degree contact (for instance, your closest friend's spouse) increases your chances for happiness by 10%, while the happiness of a third-degree contact (your closest friend's friend's friend) increases it by 6%. In other words, your happiness is directly influenced by strangers.
 

MORE SPECIFIC LEARNINGS FROM THE HAPPINESS STUDY

• Proximity is key. The closer your happy friends and family live to you, the greater the probability that their happiness will affect you. For example, the happiness of your next door neighbor is more influential than the happiness of a neighbor who lives down the street.

• More social connections adds to your happiness. The bigger your social network of nearby happy friends and family, the greater the likelihood of your happiness.

• Unhappy people cluster together in unhappy networks. As the saying goes, misery loves company.
  

• Whether or not you were happy in the past and whether your social contacts are happy are more important predictors of happiness than your income, gender or education.

• Happiness is more powerful than unhappiness. The happiness of a friend increases the probability of your happiness by 9%... while his unhappiness decreases the chances of your happiness by only 7%.

• It's not fleeting. The impact of another's happiness on your happiness lasts about a year, on average, before fading.

HAPPINESS 2.0: ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS

Dr. Fowler and his coauthor Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD, MPH, are now looking at the question of whether happiness spreads the same way via the Internet, specifically using the Facebook network. They assumed that those who posted smiling pictures of themselves with smiling friends were happy. Since Facebook automatically tags or uploads your photos to those registered as your "friends," they were able to trace the paths of these happy pictures. They found that smiling friends had photos of other smiling friends and so on and so on. (People who didn't smile in their photos, didn't have photos with friends who smiled, who in turn also didn't have photos of smiling friends.) Again -- happiness begets happiness and the same goes for unhappiness. Next they'll study how contagious online happiness turns out to be.
 

REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE

Dr. Fowler himself has been moved by his findings. "I think our study shows that the best thing we can do for ourselves is to connect to friends and family," says Dr. Fowler. "I have been personally affected by the study --

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Have a good day, be well and take care
" a simple natural lifestyle and a chuckle a day keeps the doctor away'

- additional interactive resources are at our Back to Eden site-

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