Using Technology in Medicine

May 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Health informatics is a relatively new field. It combines information technology, information sciences with the field of medicine in order to devise systems to validate, generate, secure and integrate medical and health-related data.

The idea and purpose behind health informatics is to deliver a more effective healthcare solution to patients. This is done by gathering various techniques, systems and resources together to maximize technology, medical knowledge and other available advances. This system is used in many healthcare fields such as pharmacy, nursing, dentistry and others.

Also known as medical informatics, this system uses hardware, software, networks and other such technology to gather information. Information that is gathered and processed includes medical and clinical directives, medical terminology, information technology and so on. The information derived from these processes can be applied to medical settings such as general and primary care practices, hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

This new technology uses these information systems to create a more efficient and effective operations systems within the medical fields — particularly in the areas of medical, administration and clinical information and data.

Informatics emphasizes, in particular, the need for implementing a uniform system of electronic records. By creating a uniform, easily accessed system, the results include a reduction of medical costs, as well as an improvement in overall patient care. In addition, because so much information can be easily shared billing, scheduling, research and information sharing are impacted in a positive way.

As this new field continues to grow and develop, more applications will be delivered that will provide for better, less expensive medical care to patients.

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Pet Perks: A Dog or Cat can Curb Loneliness and Make You Healthier

December 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Pet Perks: A Dog or Cat can Curb Loneliness and Make You Healthier

Separation from a loved one during training or deployment can bring intense feelings of loneliness for those left behind. Of course there are intermittent phone calls, some letters or emails and perhaps a videoconference now and then. But what about the long hours in between?

How about getting a four-legged friend?

When trained, nurtured and socialized correctly, a dog or cat can be a delightful companion that can actually improve your health and well-being. Pets can lower your blood pressure, relieve stress and anxiety, boost your immune system, make you laugh and get you moving. Who can resist a pooch whining for his daily walk? How can you feel lonely with a sleek cat sitting beside you gazing directly into your eyes and purring sweetly?

Although it’s no replacement for human touch, cuddling an animal can release the same “feel good” chemicals in our brain that have pleasurable and calming effects. Animals also can help us to be more social with others. Imagine walking your dog around the neighborhood or local park – of course people will smile and comment on your furry friend, ask questions and want to pat it.

For all the rewards a pet brings, they depend on their owners for their safety, food, shelter and medical care. Here are some tips for the responsible animal lover:
• Choose a pet that matches your personality and lifestyle.
• Make sure your pet wears a tag or has an implanted ID chip.
• Feed your animal high quality, nutritious food. Cheap food may not be nutritionally complete, and may even cause health problems.
• Take your pet to the veterinarian at least once a year and keep shots and tests up to date. For dogs, be sure to give heartworm prevention medicine year round.
• Enroll in a training class so you and your companion can learn good behaviors together.
• Spend quality time with your pet every day.

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Is Insurance Right For You?

November 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Paying for healthcare can be a nightmare. If you don’t have insurance, emergency visits to the hospital can run anywhere from four to ten thousand dollars depending upon what your ailment is and how many tests the doctors have to do to diagnose it. Many hospitals charge individual bills for each different department, which can raise the bill. An uninsured individual is charged an average of a hundred dollars for a simple checkup visit and many spend a fortune annually on prescription medication.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a long-term illness, that is scary enough without even thinking of the bills that come with it. And while we can’t put a price on the comfort of our family and friends and would spend a fortune gladly if it helped them to recover, for too many people the sad truth is that we don’t have that fortune to offer.

Insurance is the most common way to alleviate the problem. In exchange for a monthly fee that can run two hundred dollars or higher, your health care is covered up to a certain amount–ten thousand dollars is the standard for many basic insurance plans. In the event that you are injured, fall ill or need emergency medical care, your insurance will foot the bill if it is under the annual amount they have promised to cover. If your bill runs higher than the covered amount you still have to pay the difference, but that amount is nothing compared to how much it would have been had you been uninsured. Unfortunately, many people cannot afford the monthly insurance bill and forgo insurance entirely.

If your medical costs are primarily spent on prescription medication, insurance might not be necessary; many pharmacies and web sites offer membership options such as a free prescription card to slice up to 70 percent from your bill.

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When to Follow Health Advice and When to Ignore it

September 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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It seems that everyone has an opinion on what the best things are to eat, how often you should exercise, and what types of exercise you should be doing. However, when you are bombarded with a variety of health advice opinions each day, you may become overwhelmed and simply give up on trying to do the correct things. However, the last thing you should do is give up because this will result in a lowering of self-esteem. Here are a few tips on whose health advice you should follow and how to politely ignore the advice of credit less sources.

Professional Advice

The only health advice you should listen to is from health care professionals. Many well-meaning family members and friends may be encouraging you to eat certain things or exercise a particular way but, unless they are health care professionals, they don’t truly know if the advice they are giving is the best for your situation. If you want to begin eating healthier or lose weight, then you should schedule an appointment to meet with a nutritionist and a health care professional. These individuals can help you develop a weight loss plan that is uniquely tailored for your situation. This way, you will know that you are following an appropriate plan and will be more likely to succeed with your goals.

Ignore Others

After you have developed a healthy living plan with your health care professionals, you will likely still receive advice from friends and family on what you should be doing. How you choose to handle this health advice is up to you. Many people bluntly state that they are already following an individual health plan that was developed by a professional and therefore don’t need any additional advice. While this approach will likely stop the advice from these well-meaning individuals, it could also hurt their feelings. Another approach is to thank them for the tips but that you are currently working with a professional on an individualized plan. Although similar to the other approach, this option is more polite and will likely be better received.

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Protection, Whether Pet Insurance or a Doctor, Hard to Find in Iraq

August 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

With Obama pulling troops out of Iraq and declaring the war officially over, the country appears to be on the path towards self determination and possible democracy. But even so, Iraq will still have many challenges to overcome in its future. Many of these challenges come from the goal of a healthy Iraqi citizenry.

In America, people often buy pet insurance to help protect against their pet falling ill and needing expensive procedures. In Iraq, civilians are struggling for health care themselves, let alone insuring livestock or pets.

In the 1970s Iraq instituted a nationalized health care system. In the Iraqi election March 2010, improving health care was one of the biggest concerns of the people. Some claim that the problem with Iraq’s current health care system is the crumbling Iraqi infrastructure, others point to a country not recovered from a war.

Big public hospitals are the only ones equipped with the technology and supplies to diagnose complicated illnesses. Yet, these hospitals are often understaffed with both doctors and nurses. Upon occasion, the doctors stay away from hospitals to avoid being kidnapped or killed; an estimated half of Iraq’s doctors have left the country. Many were forced to flee due to sect or wealth. Meanwhile, taking a walk in the streets of Baghdad could prove hazardous to a citizen’s health. As the violence continues, the doctors are not returning.

However, public hospitals are not the only option. Private health care in Iraq is available but extremely expensive. Often times, the cost to see a specialist is prohibitive. The result is that Iraqi citizens are not receiving the health care they desperately need. In a country where bombs are flying and violence is prevalent, people are dying from a lack of a health care as a basic service. This is one challenge the Iraqi government will have to tackle in order to truly help its people.

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