Who says we can't look pretty AND teach & learn at the same time? This Registered Health Information Administrator and Educator sets the societal norms on THIS page, my dear!
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Ever wish you could just e-mail your question to a bona fide physician? Well, guess what? Now, you can. Contact Dr. Wesley Mills with your question by clicking on the title (E-mail your question to a bona fide physician) above.
Personally, I am slightly intimidated by the pain that comes along with childbirth. So, I'm glad I've never been pregnant, especially now! One of the narcotic pain relievers that's commonly used to make epidurals, or IV medication administered through the spine, is called "Fentanyl Citrate;" as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), I have made many epidurals for maternity units in the past. Well, the FDA reported more drug shortages yesterday, and Fentanyl was on their list. Certainly, hospitals are developing alternative protocols, in the interim ;-)
Good luck, pregnant ladies!
Click the title (Epidurals available when you need it?) above for FDA details.
According to FDA, generic equivalent of Zyprexa (olanzapine)and Zyprexa Zydus (olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets) were approved today! Indicated for manic depression and schizophrenia.
Manic Depression is reported by FDA as being exhibited by alternating periods of depression and irritable mood, increased activity and restlessness, racing thoughts, talking fast, impulsive behavior, and a decreased need for sleep.
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder, affecting about 1 percent of Americans. It's reported as being exhibited by hearing voices, believing other people are reading their minds or controlling thoughts, and being suspicious or withdrawn.
For more details from FDA, click on the title (Generic drug for Schizophrenia & Mania) above.
So, you demand special treatment because of your genetics? Maybe you're entitled after all. I wrote an article about the importance of more genetic studies and treatment protocols.
Click the title (Demand for special treatment) above.
"Execution of cost reduction" is an article that I wrote about the cost of health care delivery to inmates, and their right to health care access, including those on death row. Oh, and let us not forget the role of our local health departments; I talk about what happens when sick inmates are released from prison.
To read my article, click on the title (Execution of cost reduction) above.
We all know that it's wrong to tamper with a doctor's prescription. Filling in a number for refills yourself is never a good idea, even if you're a physician writing a prescription for yourself. And in case you didn't know, tampering with your prescription CAN land you in a jail cell!
For your information, Class II Narcotics, such as Percocet, Morphine, and Ritalin, are not refillable. So guess who likes like a big fat liar when they approach the pharmacy counter with one or more refills written on their Class II Narcotic prescription? You got it! See why it pays to be honest ;-)
...oh, and try to get those Class II scripts filled within 7 days of the date it was written, or you may run into problems getting the medication.
Check with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for more details on FAQ's by clicking the title (Prescription tampering) above.
Electrocution is being proposed as the sole means of execution, thanks to two of our fine members of the Florida Legislature. Meanwhile, health care services are delivered for the purpose of preserving health, and otherwise to prevent and delay death. As health care services continue to be available to the general public, inmates have a right to health care services as well. However, for those on death row, receipt of health care services may prove to be a tease.
House Bill 325, filed by Representative Brad Drake & co-sponsored by Senator Don Gaetz (whose districts run west of Tallahassee), proposes that lethal injection be replaced by electrocution! And the rationale behind this change is what, again?
To read my article, click on the above title (How would you choose to die?)above.
Pay attention to your politicians! Representative Drake & Senator Gaetz, whose districts coincide, have attempted to initiate a law that substitutes lethal injection with electrocution & an "option" for a firing squad. Will post a link to my analysis later...
Propofol, an anesthetic drug administered in hospitals, was made very popular when Michael Jackson passed away. Recently, there has been even more buzz about Propofol, as the legalities surrounding the King of Pop's death play out. Well, the FDA announced today that there is a shortage of Propofol and it's generic equivalent, diprivan. The pharmaceutical manufacturer "Teva" has discontinued Propofol. However, Hospira, Inc. and APP Pharmaceuticals are reported has having ample supply to meet market demands.
For individuals suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the shortage of the generic equivalent of Ritalin, methylphenidate hydrochloride, may cause concern. Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (Novartis) are reported as having sporadic backorders, while another pharmaceutical company called "Mallinckrodt" is also experiencing a short supply of methylphenidate. Mallinckrodt's shortage of methylphenidate hydrochloride may be indefinite.
The good news is at least three other pharmaceutical manufacturers are fully stocked with methylphenidate hydrochloride. The bad news is the number of tablets that you will be able to obtain is limited because methylphenidate hydrochloride is classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as a narcotic.
For more details, click on the title above (Drug Shortages). Also, check with your local pharmacy for availability of methylphenidate hydrochloride, and check with your doctor to make sure the date on your prescription for methylphenidate hydrochloride is recent enough to be filled at a pharmacy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning U.S. consumers not to use the emergency birth control medicine labeled as Evital. These products may be counterfeit versions of the “morning after pill” and may not be safe or effective in preventing pregnancy.
Evital has not been approved by the FDA for use in the United States.
Details can be found by clicking the title above (Is Your Birth Control FDA-approved?) or by visiting www.fda.gov
Here's an opportunity to impress your instructors and professors! Maybe you've been assigned a writing project and you have no idea what to write about. Maybe you need some insight on how dysfunctionality can be used as a catalyst to achieve important goals. Two short stories that cover topics that are applicable for sociology, military law, family law, criminology, and counseling-related courses should be on your list of "Things to do." Read and learn or read and write. Either way, it's an opportunity to expand your mind and way of thinking.
You can order "A Pepper Unpicked" and "Blood on the other side" right here from here (http://adminbydom.blogspot.com)using PayPal, or through www.amazon.com. To get to Amazon.com, you can click the title above, use the Amazon.com search box below, or click on any of the book covers within my "Wish List" on the right. Now, it's your turn to make a move!
You could be killing yourself, but effectively communicating with you doctor can help. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 785,000 people have their first heart attack every year; another 470,000 people who have already had a heart attack, have another heart attack. Heart disease, a common cause of heart attacks, kills more Blacks than American Indians, Asians, Hispanics, or Whites, according to a 2004 report from the CDC. In 2006, the CDC reported that more than 1 of every 4 people died from heart disease. Meanwhile, fatty foods such as hog maws and chitterlings continue to contribute heart disease, commonly caused by high cholesterol and lack of exercise. Often, individuals with heart disease also have what is referred to by doctors as “thick blood,” which is also known to clot more easily than normal blood. When clots occur, heart attacks and strokes can be the result.
Exercise and medication have been proven to successfully treat heart disease. The most common anticoagulant or blood thinner is a medication called Coumadin (Warfarin Sodium). However, part of the process for obtaining a favorable outcome includes routine trips to the doctor’s office for the purpose of follow up and monitoring blood levels for Coumadin toxicity. When patients who take drugs that require routine monitoring, such as Coumadin, they should not skip their doctor’s appointments. Doing so could cause a delay in detection of other complications, such as septicemia or blood poisoning, which can also result in death. Septicemia has been identified as one of the leading causes of death (nearly 35,000 people), according to a 2007 report from the CDC. However, following your doctor’s advice, such as keeping appointments, can greatly improve health outcomes.
Another thing patients can do to improve their health outcomes is to get a clear understanding of the purpose for each doctor’s visit. Taking the time to write down questions and actually asking them during visits with their doctor is likely to help as well. Another strategy patients can use in understanding the purpose of a visit with their doctor is to bring along a family member or friend who can help document and retain the information provided by the doctor for later reference.
As an educator and consultant in the field of health information management, one of the most common explanations that I hear patients cite for failing to ask questions is fear of wasting the doctor’s time. Another common response is that follow up appointments are not important. Patients, at times, also seem to allow their concern for doctors’ lucrative salaries and billing practices to supersede the importance of keeping their appointments. Depending on the circumstances, the alternative to skipping doctor’s appointments could be a serious decline in health. Besides, doctors should not be held responsible for unfavorable outcomes when patients fail to comply with their advice, such as keeping their doctor’s appointments and taking their medications as prescribed.
As each doctor’s visit is translated in standardized medical codes, the medical record continues to be the source document that explains the status of patients’ health and the health services provided to address patients’ health issues. Registered Health Information Administrators are skilled in identifying such medical codes, and can help patients exercise their right to obtain copies of their medical records, for the patient’s own recordkeeping and informational purposes. Explanations of Benefits (EOB) from insurance companies help explain each doctor’s visit, as well. EOB documents tend to include more details such as dates of service, charges, patient financial responsibility, in addition to the name of the doctor or health care provider requesting payment for health services. This information can help patients confirm the services provided to them, identify medical expenses, as well as detect identity or billing fraud.
So, do yourself a favor. Ask questions during doctor’s visits, and be as forthcoming as possible. The more details patients obtain from their doctors, the better equipped patients can be in complying with medical treatment and advice.
Chat with me about this topic at http://adminbydom.blogspot.com
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about a counterfeit product represented as “ExtenZe,” which is the name of an authentic dietary supplement for male sexual enhancement. The counterfeit product looks similar to the actual product, but contains hidden ingredients that can cause serious harm to consumers. The counterfeit product has the following lot numbers on the packages:
• LOT 1110075
• LOT F050899
FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that the counterfeit product contains tadalafil, or a combination of tadalafil and sildenafil --active ingredients in FDA-approved prescription medicines for erectile dysfunction. These ingredients are not listed on the product label.
These ingredients may interact with other medicines, like the nitrates found in some prescription medicines such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Men with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.
The counterfeit product is illegal and unsafe. The FDA is advising consumers not to purchase any products labeled as “ExtenZe” with lot numbers 1110075 and F050899. Consumers who have an ExtenZe product should check the lot numbers on the package to make sure they do not have a counterfeit product. Consumers who think they might have the counterfeit product should:
• stop taking the product; and
• contact their health care professional if they are experiencing any negative side effects.
For more details on this topic, click the above title, "Male sexual enhancement or NOT," which will take you directly to the source, www.fda.gov
The headache experience is a very common ailment. According to Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, a headache is pain felt in the forehead, eyes, jaws, temples, scalp, skull, or neck. Detecting the cause of a headache usually is less clear cut, as it is often the symptom of more serious conditions such as meningitis and high blood pressure. Furthermore, there are more than 20+ formal headache diagnoses. Just to name a few, allergic, emotional, menstrual, migraine, orgasmic, post-traumatic, spinal fluid loss, and tension headaches are all diagnoses that have been assigned a special code for health care providers to use in medical billing and administration.
The most common type of headache is called, "Tension Headache," often referred to as "head tension." In fact, 90% of all headaches are Tension Headaches, even though less than 5% of tension headaches have been reported as chronic. Symptoms may include difficulty sleeping, dull pain within the entire head, with more intense pain felt in the temples, necks, back, and shoulders. Tension Headaches usually do not cause nausea and vomiting, unlike Migraine Headaches.
Furthermore, pain from Tension Headaches can spread to the eyes and neck, as well as other muscles throughout the body; triggers can include a variety of factors such as eye strain, alcohol use, teeth grinding & clenching, sinus infections, and excessive smoking. The good news is that there's treatment available! Usually treatment includes pain (analgesic) medications, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol/acetaminophen, and aspirin. More aggressive medications, such as analgesics combined with sedatives, include drugs like Mersyndol, Percogesic, and Fiorinal are also used in treatment of Tension Headaches.
Some things you can do to manage your Tension Headaches that are recommended by medical professionals include hot baths or showers, as well as cold baths or showers. Likewise, stretching neck and back muscles have been reported as effective strategies for relief. As with some other medical conditions, changes in diet in exercise can help provide relief as well. In turn, an increase in exercise can improve your quality of sleep, too.
Speak with your health care provider about your symptoms. Once you are properly diagnosed, effective treatment will hopefully be the next thing on your agenda!
To learn more about headaches, click on the above title, "Headaches, headaches, headaches!" Now, have a dynamic day =)
Oh my goodness! Bunions can hurt, can't they?! Well, did you know that there are over a half-dozen types of surgical bunion repair procedures! Here are a few names of the various procedures: Hallux Valgus Correction, Keller-Type Procedure, Joplin Procedure, Keller-Mayo Procedure with Implant, Mitchell Procedure, Ladidus-Type Procedure, and Phalanx Osteotomy.
With the Hallux Vagus Correction, the outer-most bone part on the third bone is removed. You can find a billing code, such as 28290, in your health insurance documents (EOB), as well as your medical records, which would indicate whether this type of surgery was performed on you.
On the other hand, the Keller-Mayo Procedure with Implant is a type of surgical repair where the second and third bone parts are realigned and an artificial bone part is placed between the two of them. You can find a billing code, such as 28293, in your health insurance documents (EOB), as well as your medical records, which would indicate whether this particular surgical procedure was performed on you.
Have questions about your health insurance billing? Let me know!
