Lauren Ellerman

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/02/health/02brody.html?_r=2&ref=health&oref=slogin&oref=slogin A great article in the New York times – with some super advice (much of which we have given on our blog in the past). The issue – MEDICATION ERRORS and how 1.5 million a year are made causing injury and death. Well, if your health care providers are…

“For most Americans, the biggest health threat is not avian flu, West Nile or mad cow disease. It’s our health-care system.” That is a bold statement made by three physicians in today’s New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/02/health/02essa.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin. And what do they mean? The article analyzes a change in our healthcare system…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/26/AR2006122600592.htmlA study out of England reveals that those who take certain heart burn medications, may have an increased risk for hip fractures… The reason, acid in the stomach allows calcium to reach the bones. No acid, calcium doesn’t do its job.I wonder though – what does one little study mean?…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/15/AR2006121501514.html?nav=hcmodule My friends at the Washington Post published an article this week about an antibiotic used to treat pneumonia. The side effects are so severe however, that the FDA has voted against the drug’s use for less threatening illnesses, such as bronchitis. Well – this raises an interesting point (and…

http://www.suntimes.com/business/knowles/167526,CST-FIN-health11.article Chicago Sun Times reported yesterday, that Illinois families are paying more for healthcare, and getting less. The USA Families group compared the increase in health care costs, to increase incomes – and found that health care cost were increasing at a % rate, much higher than incomes were increasing…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/29/AR2006112900128.htmlMy friends at the Washington Post recently published an article on how Medicare costs were below projected rates this year. Really? As the baby-boomers age – as life expectancy in the United States increases annually – as elderly pinch pennies in order to have enough to pay for food, health…

If you have a family member or loved one in a nursing home / rehab or assisted living facility, you may need to watch them A LITTLE CLOSER during the holidays.Watch the resident for depression, sadness and as a result, nutrition etc. If someone leaves and comes home with you…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/04/AR2006120400029.htmlA group of pediatricians have called for a change in advertising to kids. Their motivation – all the fast food, tobacco, beer ads (etc.) are harming children and shaping the way they act, choices they make. Well good job doctors – I agree. Although I am all for the free…

You know the old saying – “the wheel that squeaks the loudest, gets the oil?” Well – in our health care system – the wheel that squeaks the loudest – helps everyone. Read this article in the Washington Post today: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112400985.html So many times people will call our office and…

Well – I heard an interesting story today. A nursing home refusing to take a patient back into their care (re-admission) unless the family signed an arbitration agreement. Do you know what an arbitration agreement is? It is a binding contract wherein one party agrees to waive their right to…