The Doctor’s Pen is Becoming Extinct

The days of receiving your prescription from your doctor hand written on a script paper are numbered. The incentives offered by the Obama administration pushing Doctors and pharmacies to adopt a form of a Health Information System.  One of the main concerns for prescribing medications online is the possibility for error from input by the doctor.  The following article from the Wall Street Journal discusses this topic in depth.

Article Link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123249533946000191.html

Health care concerns following a Natural Disaster

This specific topic is close to home for me.  Early last summer Minot, North Dakota was hit with the worst flooding in over 100 years.  I grew up in there and it was hard to listen and watch areas of a city, I knew all too well; succumb to the flood waters of the Souris River.  Not only did people lose their homes, possessions and even pets, but also now the worst is yet to come.  One close friend of mine waited impatiently as the flood waters receded enough to allow residents to pump out their basements.  During that time the ‘black water’ or contaminated flood waters sat causing damage in his basement.  Now he is faced with health concerns of mold, mildew and spores.

During a natural disaster, health care concerns are not top of our list, but after the disaster these issues become real, very fast.  The need for clean drinking water and sanitary sewer top the list.  Then we assess the potential for future ailments, or sickness caused by the disaster itself.  In the case of Minot, mold, mold spores and mildew will have to be dealt with carefully.  Thankfully there are services and companies that can provide the services necessary to ensure the cleanup was done correctly.  The following link is too an article discussing EMLab P&K IAQ Laboratory in California that will assist homeowners, contractors and restoration companies with testing of surface samples. These tests will ensure the mold, spores and mildew left behind from the flood are gone and people can continue to rebuild their lives without concerns for their health consuming their minds.

Related article:

EMLab P&K Helps North Dakota with Mold Testing and Bacteria Testing After Flooding
http://www.pr.com/press-release/337556

When Doctors and Patients Should Part Ways

A common situation is parting ways with employees, mechanics, contractors, but when was the last time you fired your doctor?  The following article is from US News about instances, like any relationship, when it is time to part ways.  Doctors take note, a pink slip could be right around the corner or maybe it is a blessing in disguise.  The whole point is personalities do not always match or the doctor is lacking in some area.  After reading the article, it is troubling to think people are faced making this choice after having a doctor display any of the nine qualities listed.  Providers should read this knowing it is only one side of the story and thankfully for both parties involved there are other choices.  Enjoy.

Article Link