Medical Supplies, and Medical Equipment News

Deja vu all over again at RSNA 2010

2010-12-11T20:15:00.001-08:00

Even though the theme for RSNA 2010 was "personalized medicine," exhibitors and attendees alike were continuing to discuss and debate the hot topic of last year's show - dose reduction.

Meaningful use and its impact placed a distant second for the buzz heard around the show floor, but interest will undoubtedly increase in the months to come as roll outs and requirements emerge.

Still, discussions of dose reduction carried the day and it was addressed in a myriad of ways. From talk of additional education and certification for radiologists to software and equipment updates, all intended to better monitor and control dose, all avenues were being explored at the show.

With troubling stories of excessive exposure emerging at nearly a weekly rate and even the FAA feeding the fire with the introduction of, and subsequent debate about, full body scans at airport security checkpoints, it wouldn't come as a surprise to find RSNA 2011's big buzz to be about dose reduction. But that's a whole new ball game.

Discount Medical Supplies

2010-04-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

Go to www.CristiaMedicalSupply.com for thousands of Discounted Medical Supplies

Care Tips For Your Diabetic Cat

2010-03-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

It is easy to be apprehensive of the future for cat lovers whose cat has been recently diagnosed with diabetes. Lucky this diagnosis is not a death sentence for your cat and they often will have no problem remaining healthy for a long happy life.

You the cat owner will have to take on the responsibility of watching and caring for your cat more diligently. It is nothing earth shattering and usually will not upset your normal activities. We’ve listed here the top three things you will have to look after:

#1 - The top responsibility you will have is to make sure you get your cat on a regular veterinarian visit schedule. It is vitally important to have a regular three month appointment for your veterinarian to check your cat’s insulin levels. This is easily done by drawing some blood.

It is not as hard as it sounds, the veterinarian will use a small device just like what humans use to get a drop of blood on a small strip. This strip is then inserted into a glucose monitoring device that your veterinarian has in the office. The most difficult part of the procedure is keeping your cat from eating twelve hours before the test.

#2 - The second responsibility may sound horrible and impossible for you to complete; the administration of the diabetes injection. If you shuddered you are not alone. But, don’t worry as it is much easier than you think and it makes your cat feel better so they will remind you when they need the shot.

Many people are surprised at first that their cat would actually meow at them to remind them when it is time for their injection. Most cats will require two separate injections a day twelve hours apart. Establishing a routine will make it easier for you and your cat to manage the administration of the proper dose of insulin.

Many cat owners found that giving the insulin injection in the morning before going to work or having breakfast and then again when they get home in the evening or right before dinner is an easy way to remember. As for the actual method to give the injection, your veterinarian will give you instructions. The easiest place to give your cat the shot is right between the shoulder blades. Actually the best place is in the loose skin area where a mother cat will pick up and carry their kittens.

#3 - The third responsibility is the most overlooked yet the easiest. Since the diabetic supplies you will need such as syringes and the insulin vials for your cat are not covered by insurance many people don’t keep an adequate supply on hand. You will need to get the insulin from your veterinarian and they may not always have enough on hand to cover your emergency. Many veterinarians recommend that you reorder the insulin when you have used 1/2 of your supply. This allows the supplier to restock the veterinarian which can take a couple of days to a week.

It is important to follow your veterinarian’s instructions including the administration of any additional vitamin supplements or special diet orders for your cat. Additionally, ask your veterinarian for the name and number of another vet that you can call in the event he or she is not available for an emergency.

A diabetic cat has days where it may not be easy to care for her. With the right amount of care and keeping a schedule plus a little bit of patience and a lot of live your cat will live a long and happy life.

Reasons to Purchase Online Medical Supplies

2010-03-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

The modern consumer wants things to be convenient, reasonably priced, and of a good quality. Nowhere do such criteria apply more strongly than in the acquisition of medical supplies. Even though most supplies are required for overall good health, consumers still want to enjoy the best deals possible. This does not mean that people are willing to sacrifice on quality, however, and this can often make it difficult to find supplies at good prices.

Fortunately, the advent of the Internet has created a unique opportunity. Consider that most “brick and mortar” establishments are usually limited to only local or regional customers, but an online shop offering medical supplies will have a global audience instead. This usually means that they can offer excellent pricing because they themselves purchase merchandise in tremendous numbers and receive bulk discounts.

For example, one of the most frequently purchased category of medical supplies are those known as “ostomy” supplies, and those who use them will have to deal with high quantity purchases. There are adhesives, wipes, bandages, and tapes that are put to use each day and which are also consumed in large numbers. Clearly, the buyers of such goods are going to want the best prices simply because they go through so many of the materials, and the best online suppliers will be able to make quantity purchases available at deep discounts too.

Not only that, but many of the better vendors provide their clients with options for automatic re-ordering too. This means that someone who requires a regular shipment of Ostomy supplies might be able to sign up for the specific quantity and type of items they need, and all on a regular schedule. With a few clicks of the mouse, they can take care of an entire year’s worth of ordering work and also know that they will get the best pricing available!

Overview of home medical equipment and ostomy supplies

2010-03-18T18:47:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for ostomy supplies then you must not check a lot of places. The best place is at your fingertip and that is internet. Yes, you can get the best home medical equipments and ostomy supplies online only. Otherwise, you need to search a lot and then also you can never be sure about the cost and reliability of the products. If you are sure about the brand then finding the best ostomy supplies over the net is simple and very easy. There are some online guides that can help you to find various home medical equipment and ostomy supplies at ease. That is why the professional are taking help from the online guides these days than any physical places.

Sometimes we face small accidents and for those times durable medical equipments can be very helpful. Durable medical equipments are also known as DME in short. If you have any medi-claim or insurances then the cost of these durable medical equipments are usually covered by them. Hospital beds, mattresses, walkers, crutches, shower chairs and all these types of equipments are known as durable medical equipment. In case of ostomy supplies the process is not very pleasant and even the experts do not opt for it unless it is an absolute necessity. These things can be temporary or permanent both. It depends on the situation and the expert take the decision based on various things.

If you are looking for ostomy supplies then it can be immensely confusing for you to find any reliable data. You can check online as there are some reliable guides available for the people. From there you can gather required information about quality and price. If the information can satisfy then you need to search for the reputed brand. Many people think that shopping online can be risky. But in case of medical equipments this is the most reliable way. You need not think about it and just choose what you want to buy. You just need to check that the company should comply with the HIPAA act otherwise you must not buy from them. If the company meets the terms of HIPAA act then they are genuine and you have absolutely no risk buying from them.

One can also take lease of these equipments. There are plenty of places from where you can take lease of these equipments. Though, that is not something advisable but if the problem is not so serious and buying the equipment is problematic then you can take lease of those equipments easily. You also need to know if there is potential financial benefit of the equipment. In future that can help you in some ways.

Overview of home medical equipment and ostomy supplies

2010-03-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

Medical Equipment Now Online!

2010-03-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

If you have been searching for a faster, easier, and more cost effective way of obtaining the medical equipment and supplies that you need, Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. may be just the solution for you.

This company has since earned a reputation for quality, low pricing, and accuracy. A wide array of medical equipment , accessories, supplies, and machines are available through this site, those released by the top brands and manufacturers in the field. What’s more, the site is a fun and secure place from which to browse and research the newest trends and technologies.

Everything from wound care to incontinence care can be found with a very simple search and click process, making your navigation and shopping experience a cinch from start to finish. Medical equipment for more pressing issues is also easy to find and offered at lower prices than you will find elsewhere. Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. guarantees the lowest prices by beating any proven competitors’ pricing. If you see a lower price on your exact supplies or products, be sure to use the toll free customer care line listed at the top right hand side of the home page to report it and receive your better deal.

Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. offers wheelchair accessories, diabetes and catheter supplies, maternity wear and baby equipment, limb supports and braces, bathroom assists, mobility devices, lifts, nutritional supplements, ramps, personal care items, ostomy supplies, and even exercise devices. The shopping, ordering, and shipping processes are quick and easy as well, offering you a secure, private, and accurate way of replenishing your home or adding to your list of home healthcare equipment. The toll free number also offers comprehensive information and answers all questions or concerns for both new and loyal clients.

Steps to Choosing the Right Provider of Medical Supplies

2010-03-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Medical supplies are required for any number of conditions.Perhaps you need crutches for a broken leg. Maybe you suffer from urinary incontinence and need to purchase intermittent catheters or male external catheters. Alternatively, maybe you need ostomy supplies or orthopedics. Regardless of your needs, you will require the right provider of medical supplies. How do you go about finding a trusted supplier?

First, you’ll need to investigate the company’s history. How long have they been in business? There is nothing wrong with a startup company, but you will probably have better luck using a company that has an established history in the industry. How many customers does the company serve? Each of these questions is important. You must find an established company with a wide customer base. This ensures that you are able to ensure savings, quality and satisfaction.

Next, you will need to determine if the company has an online presence. Purchasing from a storefront is fine in an emergency, but you’ll save more money (not to mention time) when you shop online. Does the company have an electronic catalog? Ordering online is convenient, simple and expedient.

Of course, if you do order online, you’ll need to make sure the company offers several other features. For instance, is their checkout process encrypted? Never use a company that does not have a secure website. Look for a VeriSign logo on their website to ensure that your information will be secure when ordering. You should also ensure that the company is registered with the Better Business Bureau. You can even check the BBB to find out if the company has had any complaints lodged against them.

Following these few simple steps will help you find the right online provider for your medical supplies and equipment.

What Medical Supplies Can You Purchase Online?

2010-03-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

If you need medical supplies and equipment on a regular basis, you’ll need to know where to purchase them.While driving to your local pharmacy or medical supply store might seem like the only option, you have another choice.The Internet is home to numerous companies that provide medical supplies and equipment.What types of supplies can be purchased online?Actually, you can find quite an impressive range of options.

UI Needs – If you suffer from urinary incontinence, you will find a wide range of UI supplies available online. These range from Foley catheters to male external catheters, pads, bedside drainage bags and everything in between.With the right company, your UI needs can be met quite easily.

Living Aids – Mobility is often a challenge for many people.You will find many living aids available with online companies.For instance, you will find aids designed to provide assistance around the home, such as bath lift chairs, eye pillows, lifting cushions, footstools with handrails, light switch extensions and more.You will also find aids designed to help you when you’re out and about, such as mobility shopping carts, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and more.

Dietary Aids – Many people find that they need to supplement their diet.Whether this is in the form of a liquid dietary supplement, a vitamin supplement or herbal remedies, you can purchase these supplies online, as well.

The above items are only a fraction of what you will find with the right online medical supplies provider. You will also find wound care supplies, orthopedics, ostomy supplies, diabetic supplies and bathroom aids, as well as a plethora of other options.Of course, you will need to ensure that you choose the right company for your needs.The best option is a company with a long history of quality, customer service and good pricing.

How to Find the Best Medical Supplies Online

2010-03-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

Buying medical supplies can be a challenging task for many for the reason that it is not just about getting what you want but ensuring that you get what you truly deserve.

The advent of new technologies like the Internet helps a lot of people by making buying more easy for them. Online purchase of medical supplies has become more and more popular today and this is because of the number of advantages this technology brings.

If you are one of many who want to buy medical products online, you need to take some considerations into account. You need to pay extra attention when it comes to prices, product quality - among other features. You may ask how...consider some tips below:

Product review: Take time reading product reviews. Checking medical supplies review sites is one effective way to know a particular product better. These sites are usually published in details by individuals who have utilized the product or by those who work on research - by profession - to provide important information for public use. Medical review sites allow you to do comparison among different brands so you have better chances of choosing better medical products for you.

Participate in forum: Participating in online forum is another yet a good way of knowing important information about the product that you want to buy. Participating on discussion boards allows you to interact with people with same interests. You can find this forum by simply Googling for this topic. For instance you can type this phrase: medical supplies+online forum.

Online stores. After spending time on forum and review pages, try to visit medical online stores. Online stores provide comprehensive information - descriptions, technical details, and specifications - about the product you want to buy. Aside from that, most (if not all) of online stores have their own online support representatives. You can have a conversation with them, you can ask question about the product anytime as most of them are online 24/7.

What to Consider When you Need to Obtain Medical Equipment

2010-03-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

If you’ll need medical equipment for your own or someone else’s home care, you have a few options for how to obtain it. Your choice of supplier will depend on the type of equipment you need, cost and the nature of your needs.

The first step in obtaining medical equipment for home care is to identify exactly what you need. Your doctor, hospital or nursing home can tell you exactly what you will definitely need for home care. They also may make some suggestions about items that could be useful or helpful, but may not be necessities or items for immediate purchase.

One important factor to consider is whether you need medical equipment long term or short term. If supplies are needed for a recovery period only, it may be possible to rent costly items such as medical beds instead of purchasing them. You may also find patient lifting equipment, wheelchairs, walkers and even canes available for rental or exchange.

It is important to be practical about cases involving terminal illnesses when considering whether or not to purchase or rent home medical equipment. Your doctor can provide guidance and advice, as can medical supply company personnel.

If you will need to purchase disposable medical equipment or items you will use on a regular basis, you’ll need to choose a reliable home medical equipment supply company. It’s important to find a company that has the items you’ll need on hand at all times for immediate shipment, and that customer support is readily available.

Cost may be an issue whether you are purchasing medical equipment for long term or short term use. Insurance may cover only certain percentages of equipment expenses, or a certain dollar amount. If you will need to pay for even part of the cost of medical supplies, price shopping and comparison can be the key to affording necessary medical equipment.

Medical Supplies for Pain

2010-03-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

There is really nothing worse than having a headache or menstrual cramps and having to drive to the gas station or pharmacy to get pain killer because you ran out in your house. To ensure that this never happens to you, you should have a stock of pain-relieving medical supplies in some easily accessible by place in your home so that you can easily get to the pain relief you need right when you need it.

To get all your pain-relief supplies together, first pick out a container for it all; things simply stay together and organized better if they have a basket or tub to sit in. Then, think through all the different pain-relief supplies you may need. You’ll want, for instance, a few different types of pain killer – maybe one with a sleep aid involved – a hot water bottle or its equivalent, some ice packs, and some bandages for attaching ice packs to sore areas at the very least.

If you have kids, you may also want some children’s pain medication and some antiseptic spray or cream that is also pain relieving. Your other pain-relief needs will depend totally on your own situation, but think carefully over what you have needed at various times over the past few months.

Then, gather up all your supplies and inventory them on a note pad as you put them in their easy-to-find container. It may seem silly to take an inventory, but it can actually be really helpful because it can allow you to see when you’re running out of things. If you check the contents of the basket against the inventory once a month or so, you’ll be able to pick up replacement supplies as you go, eliminating all of those frustrating late night runs for pain killer or heat therapy pads.

Should You Purchase Medical Supplies Online or Offline?

2010-03-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

Purchasing medical supplies should not be a difficult thing to accomplish.However, many people find themselves confused about whether to purchase their needed supplies and equipment online or from a physical location.Actually, both methods have pros and cons.Below, you’ll find a short guide to making the right decision for your needs.

Offline – Purchasing offline is the traditional option.You’ll find that you can buy medical supplies from numerous physical stores.Pharmacies, medical supply outlets and other options give you access to a wide range of equipment and supplies.However, it requires time and money (in fuel costs) to drive to the store, as well as time to peruse their offerings, make your purchase and then return home.Offline purchasing can also be more expensive than online options.

Online – Purchasing your needed medical supplies online is a newer choice for many consumers.You’ll find that this is much more expedient than having to drive to the pharmacy or supply store to make your purchases.However, some companies do not have a solid reputation for quality, so care must be exercised when choosing your provider.That said, it can be quite affordable to purchase online and you will even find providers that offer you reduced or free shipping on your purchases.

Purchasing your supplies online is the best option for your needs.Of course, you will need to make sure you choose the right company.Not all online providers of medical supplies are the same.Therefore, take the time to research your options and choose a provider that has a long history in the industry, a sterling record of customer service and features the best prices on supplies and shipping.

With a bit of research, you will be able to find a trusted provider online that can supply you with the medical supplies and equipment that you need.

Keeping Track of Medical Supplies

2010-03-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

Often times, unless people are trained in the medical field or work in a place where they’re constantly using medical supplies, they forget to stock up on basic medical supplies at home. Sometimes this is just annoying, as in the case when your child scrapes her knee and you can’t find a band-aid. Sometimes, though, it can be downright dangerous. While you can make improvised wound care supplies, it’s better to have actual gauze, tape, and wrap around when you have a wound that is bleeding heavily.

Before you get into a situation like this, it’s best if you stock up on necessary supplies and stay on top of what you have on a regular basis. There are a few different ways to do this, and your way will probably depend on your style of organizing and the level of written organization you prefer to use.

The neatest and more organized people will probably create a paper-based system for tracking medical supplies. Each time you buy something, you’ll write down what you bought and its quantity, and each time you use something, you’ll mark it off your list. This can be a good way to go because it will allow you to see as soon as you begin to get low on an item. This can be a little tedious, though, especially for people who aren’t natural organizers.

Another way to be sure you always have the supplies you need on hand is to eyeball it. You can simply store the supplies in an organized space – a craft organizer with large slots works well – so that you can see when you start to get low on something. When the stack begins to dwindle, you can add more bandages or tape or whatever to your shopping list to pick up supplies so that your box is restocked and ready to go.

Medical Supplies for Babies

2010-03-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

Having a new baby can be pretty overwhelming, but things will be even worse if you don’t have the medical supplies that you need on hand. Before you bring your baby home, you should stock up on anything and everything that you might possibly need during the first few months of your baby’s life. This article will give you some idea of the things that you should purchase, but you should also talk to more experienced parents, who will be able to tell you in more detail what supplies you should have on hand.

First off, you’ll need to have medical supplies on hand for basic, everyday needs. You should have gel that will help numb your baby’s mouth when he’s teething, and you should have some gas drops that will help ease his stomach when he’s gassy. Don’t forget things like a baby first aid kit, which should have everything from bandages to tiny nail clippers for your baby.

You’ll also want to have medical supplies on hand for when your baby gets sick. Be sure that you have a pain reducer and fever reducer for babies in your cabinet. Also, you’ll need to have a baby-sized syringe that can help you measure the medicine properly and get your baby to take it. You may also want to have some stronger stomach medication on hand that can be used when your baby’s stomach is really upset.

There are probably more medical supplies that you can keep around your home, including wound care supplies just for young ones. If you’re unsure about whether or not a particular medicine or ointment is safe for your baby, don’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician, who will be able to tell you what over-the-counter medications are made for little ones.

Medical Supplies for Diabetics

2010-03-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

If you are diabetic, you know that you have many medical needs that other people simply cannot comprehend. You will need to have certain medical supplies on hand so that you will be able to control your diabetes. This can be expensive, and sometimes insurance does not pay for all of your needs. If you are looking for medical supplies that can help to make your life easier, you might want to consider ordering what you need over the Internet.

You might be surprised to find that all of the different medical supplies that you would need are available over the net. You can find an online company that offers everything you need so that you will be able to make a single order and have all of your supplies. Another benefit that diabetics will appreciate is that the supplies can be delivered right to your home. This means that you do not have to leave the house to pick up the supplies.

You can find syringes, testing strips, and monitors online. In addition, you will be able to find skin cream and even socks especially for diabetics. Everything that can make your life a little bit easier is only a click away. You will find many different brands as well, so if you have a type of test strip that you like and trust over the others, you can be sure that you can find it online.

Medical supplies ordered online can often be cheaper than those that you would find in other locations. When you are shopping for your diabetic medical supplies online, you should search for a company that will be able to offer you a discount on the things that you need.

Diabetes is hard enough. Ordering medical supplies online can make things a little easier.

Three Steps to Choosing Online Medical Supplies

2010-03-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

If you have not yet delved into the online shopping world, you may be facing it with a little trepidation. However, shopping online provides you with access to more supplies, brands, styles, and volumes than you would ever have been able to find in the past. You could be saving money as well as time and aggravation just by making the switch to online. However, if you need a little guidance, consider these three steps.

1. When you are looking for medical supplies, consider the amount of supplies you will need and the volume in which you will need to order them. This will help you find your supplies quite quickly and you will be able to determine if the supplier can provide the amount you need when you need them.

2. Ease of use is also important. If you are able to use the supplier’s website easily and find your products quickly, then you will know that you can feel comfortable shopping there again and again. Look for search tools that work well and easy to understand categories.

3. Choose one supplier and stick with them. Just as you would do with catalog or on-site shopping, you will want to build up a good reputation with one supplier. This way, you will know that you can always depend on them to provide you with the products you need, and you will feel comfortable dealing with them on a long-standing, regular basis.

Finding the medical related supplies that you need is much, much easier than it ever has been. With a computer and an Internet connection, you can find thousands of products quickly and easily. With just a little guidance and a deep breath, you can delve into the world of online shopping for all of your medical supplies needs.

Ageing UK Population and Incontinence

2010-03-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Incontinence is the name given to an inability to control urine elimination, which means that people pass urine by accident. up to three million people in England suffer from this embarrassing condition, and it is particularly widespread in women over 40.

There’s many types of incontinence, although every single one is down to a problem with bladder.

Our urine is made by the kidneys and it collects in the bladder. when it is full of urine, the bladder empties. When it is emptying, the the bladder’s muscular wall has to contract at the same time as the band of muscle in the bladder relaxed. much cases of incontinence in people is a result of a problem with one or both of these processes.

Incontinence can show itself in a variety of different ways. symptoms vary from urine leakage during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting, to small amounts of urine leaking or dribbling from the body unexpectedly & often.

If you have got any of these symptoms, go and visit your dr for advice and diagnosis. Don’t be embarrassed about the intimate nature of your problem – the dr will frequently see similar cases.

As we’ve already mentioned, there are many types of incontinence. These include:

Stress incontinence, which is the most widespread form of incontinence and one that is widespread in women that have had kids. Stress incontinence is when urine leaks during sneezing, laughing and other stuff that put pressure on the bladder.

Urge incontinence, which is when you know that you want to urinate although you can’t hold it in long enough to make it to the bathroom in time. for this reason, urine can leak the minute you want to urinate.

Reflex incontinence is another range of the problem and it usually occurs due to a spinal or neurological trauma or disease where there’s little or no voluntary control or sensation of the bladder.

a handful of people may suffer from mixed type incontinence, which means, for example, sufferers of stress incontinence may develop other strains of the problem.

There’s a vast variety of different treatments available for incontinence.

One of them is bladder training. this treatment requires you to empty your bladder at set times, before gradually increasing the duration between intervals. this treatment needs to be followed for at least six weeks to see if it is going to work.

Alternatively, your dr may want to prescribe some medicines to treat your problem. hrt may also be handy if you’ve been through the menopause & suffer from an overactive bladder.

If you’ve stress incontinence & other incontinence treatments have not been effective, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to support your urethra and bladder neck. There’s a vast variety of surgical procedures available, which means that you will have to visit your doctor for more info.

You’ll also discover that there are several incontinence products available that’ll help you to control your symptoms. These include throw-away pants to help you cope with light incontinence & a wide variety of incontinence pads.

You should also find incontinence bed protection & skin care, which means that you can stay as clean & dry as possible.

Can Incontinence Underwear be Sexy?

2010-03-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Long gone are the days of granny panties! Living with incontinence doesn't mean you have to wear big bulky adult diapers - for most people incontinence is a little "oops" here and there. Now you can dress to manage this issue - and still feel sexy!
From seamless, to thongs, to bikini's, to briefs....cotton, lace or lycra - there are so many choices out there to be worn!
Trendy & Fashionable Incontinence Underwear
For light incontinence you will find some very stylish incontinence products in the form of underwear. No more mesh pants if you don't want them! Many of today's incontinence underwear lines available have
* an extra thick gusset
* unique fabric at the crotch that quickly pulls moisture away from skin
* antimicrobial & anti-odor treatment
* some have a waterproof crotch with extra room for an incontinence liner
* from thongs, to bikini's, to briefs....cotton, lace or lycra - some are even seamless (for the NO vpl (visible panty lines)
For ladies & men - these modern technology incontinence products have really hit the market and are flying off the shelves!
Just in case you feel you need a bit more protection, there are also incontinence liners & bladder control pads that can fit nicely in these fashionable panties!
For light/moderate incontinence, have you tried using a maxi or mini-pad to absorb any leakage? Well, if you have, then you've found out the hard way that sanitary pads were not designed for that use.
Incontinence liners & bladder control pads were designed to be considerably more absorbent and have the added benefit of a waterproof backing. There are both disposable and cloth incontinence liners & bladder control pads. With new technology - some companies even make them flushable & compostable!
For those who need more protection, there are even incontinence underwear made specifically for heavier incontinence, too.

So now you have no reason to sit at home and stare at those 4 walls! Go on, get out and enjoy life again!

7 Things You Didnt Know About Incontinence

2010-03-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

As people age, so do their bodies and their organs. One of the
most embarrassing issues that accompany aging organs is urinary
incontinence. This issue affects approximately 20 million
Americans and 25% of all women. The causes are varied, but
basically boil down to age and previous pregnancy. While
incontinence can be an embarrassment for many sufferers, there
are treatment options that should be discussed with your
physician; this is not just another sign of old age that you
cannot do anything about.

1- When many people feel the urge to urinate often, they assume
that they are suffering from urinary incontinence, when in fact;
they could very well be dealing with issues that arise from
other, more simply, ratified issues. Actual urinary incontinence
needs to be diagnosed by a physician.

2- For example, more people are health conscience and therefore
drinking more water, sometimes as much as ten liters a day. This
amount of water in itself is enough to give the impression of
incontinence. Simply cutting back on the amount of water that is
consumed will help to eliminate some of the issue.

3- Caffeine is another culprit that leads people to believe that
they are experiencing incontinence. The reason for this is that
too much caffeine stimulates the bladder muscle to contract and
feel fuller than it really is. Again, simply cutting back on the
intake of caffeine loaded products such as coffee, soft drinks,
tea and dark chocolate may help with the issue of incontinence.

4- There are two types of urinary incontinence, stress related
and urge related incontinence. With stress related incontinence,
the bladder is stimulated by certain activities, such as
running, coughing or sneezing. During these activities, urine
may leak out of the bladder. It is suspected that the loss of
estrogen as a woman ages is the reason for this. Urge related
incontinence differs in that the bladder itself is contracting,
causing the urge to urinate.

5- There are some basic steps that can be taken to minimize some
of the affects of urinary incontinence. One simple thing that
can be done is to do Kegel exercises, these help to strengthen
the pelvic muscles, which hold the bladder in place. Some women
learn to squeeze the bladder before coughing or sneezing, this
also holds the bladder and helps to eliminate urine leakage.

6- The use of medicines can also help to eliminate the urge to
urinate that accompanies urinary incontinence. The use of an
E-ring provides the body with a small amount of estrogen. This
is just enough to replace the amount needed to help the body
regain control of the bladder. The E-ring is placed in the
vagina for up to three months and does not interfere with normal
urination or intercourse.

7- An over the counter method that works for some sufferers of
mild incontinence is pseudophedrine, which is a decongestant.
This drug stimulates the receptors that are in the bladder and
help to control the urge to urinate. If your incontinence is
caused by known activities, it would help to take two
pseudophedrine pills a half hour before. This may be all that is
needed to control the bladder.

Medicare Supply Benefits

2010-03-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Medicare is a federally funded and operated health insurance program for elderly and disabled individuals who have a work history that is sufficient to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Medicare may cover your necessary medical equipment and supplies.
Types of Coverage
If you are in a hospital or long-term care facility, Medicare Part A hospital benefits will cover your medical supplies and equipment. Medicare Part B pays for medical supplies and equipment received on an outpatient basis.
Covered Supplies & Equipment
Covered equipment and supplies include catheters, ostomy supplies, supplies for feeding tubes, supplies for tracheotomy care, diabetic supplies, respiratory supplies, vacuum devices for impotence treatment, wheelchairs, augmentative communication devices and orthotics and prosthetics. Examples of respiratory supplies include breathing treatment machines and home oxygen equipment and cannisters. Examples of diabetic supplies include testing strips, glucometers and diabetic shoes.
Other Supplies & Equipment
Medicare may pay for the cost of other medical supplies and equipment if your medical provider documents that they are medically necessary. You may have to submit an appeal to Medicare if payment is rejected. Contact 1-800-MEDICARE to discuss the specifics of the appeal process.
Suppliers
Medicare has an online directory for locating suppliers of medical equipment and supplies that are approved to bill Medicare (see resources). You may utilize suppliers that are not approved to bill Medicare, but you will be required to submit a Medicare claim form and will only be reimbursed at Medicare-approved rates for the supplies and equipment.

High Quality, Low Cost Diabetic Supplies

2010-03-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

Diabetes affects an estimated 21 million children and adults in the U.S. Approximately 15 million of them have not been diagnosed, and another 54 million have pre-diabetes or borderline diabetes. On top of the health-related stress of diabetes, the cost of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to battle diabetes is expensive. Diabetic supplies, doctor visits, health food, and other expenses can run the cost of diabetes treatment to $10,000 per patient each year, according to a survey conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).

What many diabetic sufferers do not know, however, is that a portion of their expenses can be decreased simply by purchasing their diabetic supplies online. Many diabetics with Medicare or private insurance can purchase their diabetic supplies and have them delivered at low or no cost.

Plenty of resources are available to help diabetics cut the costs of diabetes supplies. Look for a reputable source that offers assistance with purchasing and delivering diabetic testing supplies, along with assisting clients in filling lengthy medical forms and insurance paperwork. This is often a sign of that the company is committed to customer service and provides extensive assistance with proper, low cost ordering of diabetic supplies and prescriptions.

The process should be easy and fast to arrange. Clients simply call in to speak to one of the company’s highly trained, physician-supervised medical consultants. The consultant files the prescription to the physician, and if the caller qualifies, the company will arrange for free home delivery of all necessary testing supplies. This kind of service may prove to be helpful for aging diabetics who have neither the time nor understanding of how to order diabetic supplies online.

With Cristia Medical Supply, Inc, there is no waiting in long lines to get your diabetic supplies. Learn how easy it is to obtain your diabetic supplies by visiting our website www.cristiamedicalsupply.com

Information and discussion about the Earth Changes and the pending Pole Shift.

2010-03-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

Yes...the governments of the world DO know things the general public will never know. There is MAJOR stockpiling going on... Medical Supplies, Food, etc. all over the world. They are SMART not to tell the public what they know, for if they did, it would throw everything into a major grid-lock and chaos. This is something NONE of us need right now.

I do not think there is time to fool around getting prepared, but at the same time, I'm wondering if stocking up on stuff for regular, everyday folks is even what we need to be doing? Would we be better served to try to spend the money and time getting something prepared for underground living for a while? It seems that's the trend. Going as far down underground as possible. Now.. if we go underwater, this could pose a problem.

I believe we are in for some extreme HEAT, like never before, SUN RELATED.

I would like to spend my money and time productively, but it's difficult when you are running to and fro in the dark, with blinders on.

Wound Care supplies online

2010-03-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

In the world of medicine, one can sometimes measure the difference between life and death in matters of seconds, the amount of time it takes to close a bad wound. So, any medical office that routinely does surgery or wound repair that requires wound closure products knows just how important it is to have plenty of those supplies on hand. Imagine what would happen if the doctor held out his hand for any kind of suture products and they weren’t there! Having the right supplies would make all the difference to everyone involved! That is why it is so important to find the right vendor for your suture product and suture delivery needs. The best idea is to find a vendor who specializes in wound closure products. There are several good reasons for doing this, including lower prices, but that’s not the only reason by any means.
When you go with a specialist vendor, you can safely assume that this company knows the business of sutures and wound closure products inside and out. Plus, if selling and delivering sutures and suture supplies is the company’s only business, you know that they will have in stock literally thousands of different products from autosuture skin stapling equipment and supplies, to cardio vascular supplies, various kinds of ligatures and mesh devices, plus drains, stents, and other types of advanced wound care supplies. Of course, another great thing about being a specialist business is that you buy large quantities of the products that you sell to your clients, and thus, can qualify for bulk discounts from your vendors. These low prices can be passed on to your clients, thereby giving them yet one more incentive to use your company as their exclusive suppler of wound closure products.

Another good reason to go with a company that specializes in suture delivery is that this company’s reputation depends upon getting supplies to clients as rapidly as possible, in most cases, overnight. Because many types of wound closure products are small and lightweight, you can ship large quantities in small packages at reasonable shipping rates. When it’s cheap to ship your products overnight, the suture delivery company can pass on those low costs to clients. That’s one more advantage to working with a very specialized vendor.

Finally, dealing with a specialized supplier of wound closure products means that you’re partnered with a company that knows just how vital your order is. A specialized supplier is usually the most cost-efficient way to deliver suture supplies to a hospital or medical office. Other, less-specialized medical supply companies may carry some of the items that you need, and they may be able to provide them quickly with overnight shipping, but they simply won’t have as deep an inventory to choose from. Plus, the specialist company will almost always be able to beat the generalized supplier when it comes to costs. Really, you’re better off going with the specialist in wound closure supplies. Their staff will always be more attuned to the needs of your hospital or practice, they’ll have a much greater range of products to offer, and they’ll know immediately where to find anything that they don’t stock.

So, if you need vendors that are detailed-oriented, know their many products well, and are willing to pay close attention to customer service, then you need to go with a specialist in wound closure products. If you go with a specialist vendor, you’ll save money, save time, and be able to resolve problems far more quickly than you can with a huge, monolithic company that deals in a vast array of medical supplies. Once you’ve begun dealing with a specialized dealer in suture delivery, you’ll notice the difference immediately.

Wound Dressings - Composites

2010-03-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Oxygen must be able to flow through the coronary arteries that lead to the heart. This can get interrupted if the arteries become too blocked or get too narrow. This in turn can cause a heart attack or angina to develop. These arteries can become blocked or narrow from a buildup of plaque which is made up of different things, one of them being cholesterol.Everyone knows that in the wintertime in the northern states, you re going to have to deal with snow and ice. Snow removal teams will do their best to get out and plow, salt, and sand the roads to keep them from turning into a massive game of bumper cars. But what about all the sidewalks, walking paths, and parking lots?People often go to a hospital because they are sick from illness and want to get better. In order to prevent their illnesses from spreading to others physicians use infection control supplies.AED s save lives. They are easy to use devices that can save the victim of a sudden cardiac arrest.Two Words - Poison Control. Have the local number handy, especially if you have children in the house! This will connect you automatically to your local 24 hour Poison Control Center. A Free Public Service!

Unbelievable! Was my reaction to The Oprah Winfrey Show on the horrific tale of a woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer and then some. According to the woman, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram, and a biopsy. She then saw a few specialists who examined her, but could not find her cancerous tumor.The article shows how vulnerable a brain is. If there is one thing that people hope won t happen to them, it is brain injury. The brain is so vulnerable that an impact can mean disastrous results? Now, aren t we glad that it is safe inside our skull?The main goal for treatment of cardiogenic shock is reestablishing myocardial circulation, minimize heart muscle damage, and improve the pumping function of the heart. First-line treatment can utilize antishock trousers which compress the legs and shunt blood flow to the vital organs.A head to toe survey is an evaluation of the trauma patient. In this evaluation, the look, listen and feel approach is used to evaluate the skin and everything it contains. There is an ordered approach to this survey as with ABC s so it can be rapidly performed to minimize time at the scene.Composite dressings are dressings that combine the advantages of multiple layers, providing more than one function in wound care management. Each layer of dressing is physiologically distinct.

How to Find Diabetic Testing Supplies

2010-03-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

For people living with diabetes, it is extremely important to know how to find diabetic testing supplies. Diabetic testing supplies allow people to test their blood sugar daily and ensure they are in a healthy state. However, finding diabetic testing supplies can be very expensive and difficult. Learn how to find discounted and even free diabetic testing supplies.
Difficulty: EasyInstructions
Step 1)
Ask Your Insurer To Find Diabetic Testing Supplies
The first place you should start to find diabetic testing supplies is by talking to your doctor and insurance companies. Most insurance companies are affiliated with diabetic testing supply companies that will provide you with diabetic testing supplies for free or at a discounted price. Your insurer will know the ins and outs of getting you diabetic testing supplies, so it is smart to always start there.

Step 2)
Use Online Diabetic Testing Supply Companies
As more and more people are diagnosed with diabetes every year, there are many online companies that offer diabetic testing supplies. Most of these companies make it very easy to find diabetic testing supplies and all you will have to do is fill out a simple form and they will contact you and let you know how much the supplies will cost. They will also take care of working with your insurance company which makes finding diabetic testing supplies much easier because they do all the leg work.

Step 3)
Look for Diabetes Support Groups to Find Diabetic Testing Supplies
One way to find free diabetic testing supplies is to join a diabetes support group. Not only will you get great diabetes support, many of these groups receive countless free samples from diabetic testing supply companies for their members. Many people living with diabetes are able to obtain free diabetic testing supplies in these support groups.

Seniors Save Money Buying Medical Supplies Online

2010-03-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

The technological marvel of the Internet has made it much easier for people, especially seniors, to get all of the medical supplies they need. If you are in need of supplies that will make your life easier, you will find that all of the brands that you know and trust are available with the click of a mouse button.

You will be able to find diabetic supplies, weight loss equipments, mobility scooters, and many other types of equipment as well as rehabilitation equipment. No matter what you need, you are sure to find it in these online stores.

One of the greatest aspects of buying the medical supplies online is that you will be able to save money. This is important for everyone, but those who are on a fixed income and still need to have certain supplies for their medical needs will truly be able to appreciate this. Another reason that buying online is so popular is because it negates the need to head to the drugstore each week. The company through which you get your supplies will be able to send everything that you order directly to your door. You do not have to fight traffic and try to find what you need in the store. It does not get much easier than that!

You will also find that many of the companies offer free shipping when you order over a certain dollar amount. In most cases, this is a small sum, generally around $25. This means that the amount that you spend will be even less with the free shipping!

With all of the benefits that you can find when you order your medical supplies over the Internet, you can see why more and more seniors are choosing this method.

Medical Supplies Bought Over the Internet Offer Many Uses

2010-03-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

The Internet makes many parts of life easier, from researching interesting topics to buying books, movies, and even medical supplies. In fact, many people choose to use the Internet to buy all of the supplies for their medical needs. One of the main benefits of doing this is the price. Many times, you will be able to find items that are the same price, or even less than the prices of the same item in a brick and mortar store. You can have the company deliver the items to you, which saves time as well. This is an unbeatable combination in many peoples’ eyes.

Many different people will be able to use the medical supplies that they buy online. You will find that most people choose to buy them for their personal needs, while others are caregivers and home nurses who buy the supplies for their patients. This will save money for the patients who, in some cases, are working with a limited budget. People who live in out of the way areas and who do not have easy access to a local drugstore or medical supply company will love that they can have everything they need delivered to them quickly.

Just about everyone will be able to make use of one of the online stores when they think about it. They will be able to fill up their first aid kits, make sure that they have their diabetic supplies, and more. Ordering medical supplies online is not only cheaper in most cases it is also very easy to do. It is much the same as if you were ordering anything else online. Order everything you need from one company, making stocking up a simple task that you can do in just a few minutes.

Keep Medical Supplies in Your Home

2010-03-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

Everyone should keep a good stockpile of medical supplies in his or her home. Consider it a form of insurance. If you cut yourself, or if a child burns her hand on the stove, you want to have the supplies that you need on hand. Knowing that you have everything you need at the house and that you do not need to hurry to the drugstore a few miles away will give you the peace of mind you need to deal with the situation with a clear head.

The best way to get all of the medical supplies that you need is to order them online. The Internet has made it easy for people to get all of the supplies they need in one location. You will be able to order everything that you need, and the company can send it to your house. Ordering over the Internet is easy and safe, not to mention convenient. You won’t have to go through the frustration of finding out that the store down the street is out of what you need.

You will find that the online companies offer far more than just salves, bandages, and basic first aid material though. You can get all of the different types of medical supplies that you need through the online companies, and many times you will find that the companies offers great discounts on their items.

Diabetics will find the supplies that they need to make their lives easier, and those who are looking for ambulatory devices such as scooters, walkers, and canes, can find those as well. Online companies can offer ostomy supplies as well. Regardless of your medical needs, you should be able to find just about everything that you need through the online stores. The only thing that you won’t be able to order through the site is a doctor!

Here is a Great resource for your Medical Supplies!

How to Purchase Medical Supplies Online

2010-03-11T17:35:00.000-08:00

Many patients have the option of purchasing their own supplies for the treatment of their condition from the vendor of their choice. Most such supplies can be purchased online today. This means that these consumers have more access to options and that they can end up saving considerable amounts of money by using vendor sites. Some individuals who haven’t a lot of experience using a computer or purchasing online may find this a bit intimidating. The process is very easy, in reality, and the sites of vendors are generally very secure affairs.

First and foremost, one must consult with their doctor about the various medical supplies available to treat their condition. In some cases, a specific model of a device made by a specific manufacturer may be required. In others, the consumer may be able to choose between the offerings of many different vendors and avail themselves of the best deal for their money. Either way, these sites make this much easier than it was in the past, when catalogs or driving all over town to find the best deal was required.

Most sites will have an interface that allows both searches for a specific item and browsing by category. Sometimes, browsing by category will reveal to the customer that there are many more options for their product than they may have initially thought. Searching on these sites allows the individuals to find their specific product in the fastest possible way. Generally, these sites will allow small and large quantity purchases of items. For those individuals who have a chronic condition that requires a constant flow of supplies, purchasing in bulk may have considerable benefits. For others, purchasing at the slight discount afforded by purchasing individual supplies may still be significantly better than local retailers.

Here is a Great resource for finding all your medical at a discount.

Finding Online Companies Selling Medical Supplies

2010-03-11T17:31:00.000-08:00

The Internet can make many different aspects of life easier, and one of the ways that it does that is by allowing consumers to place order for just about anything they could ever want. Finding what you need and ordering it online is easy, and if you can order a book online, you will find that you can order the medical supplies that you need. Of course, when you are ordering medical supplies, you will want to make sure that you are going through a trusted and reputable company.

What Should You Look For in a Company?

When you are looking for a company from which you can buy your medical supplies, you are going to want to keep a few things in mind. You want to find a company that offers a secure system for your purchases. Sites that have security will often have a notice on their page telling customers that it is a secure site.

You should also look at the choices the company offers. You want to find a company that has different brands, as well as a wide range of medical supplies. A company that offers everything from bandages to syringes to therapeutic devices and catheters means that you will be able to shop for everything you need in one place. In addition, check the shipping times so that you know how long it will take before your supplies come to your doorstep.

The price is another factor that you must consider. Find a company that offers good prices. Many of the online companies specializing in medical supplies offer great discounts to their customers. Choose a company that is part of the Better Business Bureau as well. This will give you peace of mind when you order through them.

All About Mail Order Diabetes Supplies - Tips and Advice

2010-03-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

The number of people being diagnosed with diabetes grows more and more each year and the cost of dealing with this disease is expensive. Did you know that on an average, people can spend $11,744 a year on diabetes health care expenses? A diabetic needs a glucose meter, lancing device, lancets, testing strips, insulin (Type 1), insulin pump and syringes. If you don't want to bother going to the pharmacy and if you want to save money you might want to consider looking at mail order diabetes supplies companies.

There are various companies that you can find online that will ship the supplies directly to you and bill your insurance company on your behalf. Placing an order is not difficult, it won't take but 3 minutes or less. All you have to do is submit the needed information and the rest will be taken cared of by the mail order diabetes supplies company. Others would even call to remind you that it's about time to reorder your supplies. Some may send in email reminders. You also have the option to set up automatic shipment so you won't have to go through the hassle of placing an order each and every time. This is advisable for supplies that you use a lot and regularly such as insulin, lancets, testing strips and alcohol pads.

Don't buy from the first store that you come across with. Shop around and if you can, read consumer reviews. Make a thorough research about the company before you actually commit yourself to it. Also, you have to make sure that they have all the supplies that you need. It's inconvenient for you to scatter your order instead of just doing a one stop shop. Diabetic Care Services and Liberty are two of the most well-known names that you can depend on.

Always choose a store that specializes in diabetic care so you can avail of the services provided by diabetic educators who are well informed regarding diabetes management and care. Most of the mail order diabetes supplies companies carry a wide range of equipment and other supplies from strips to gauze and alcohol pads. If you are covered by Medicare, you can avail of blood sugar monitor, test strips, lancing device, lancets and other glucose control solutions.

One reason why I like shopping at mail order diabetes supplies companies is because they do not have upfront costs and they offer free shipping and most of the times, no-risk guarantee. You can even get free blood sugar meter every year, health and diabetic magazines subscription and cookbooks for diabetics.

Are Online Medical Supplies the Answer for You?

2010-03-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

Do you find yourself in need of medical supplies and equipment on a regular basis? If so, then you likely find yourself wondering how to save money and time on your purchases. A wide range of supplies and equipment types are needed by both consumers and medical professionals on a regular basis. These might be mobility aids, urinary incontinence supplies, diabetic supplies or any number of other things. However, finding access to these supplies can prove daunting.

Of course, you will be able to find numerous sources for supplies online. Gaining access to these types of equipment and supplies is generally not a problem. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different companies around the world providing access to such commodities. However, gaining access to affordably priced supplies is the real problem here. Many companies charge exorbitant amounts for their merchandise, simply because these items are indispensible.

Whether you represent a doctor’s office, a hospital, clinic or are a private consumer, you’ll need to know where you can purchase medical supplies for reasonable prices and still ensure that they are delivered on a timely basis. Online retailers are better options, simply because they provide lower prices on their merchandise.

That said, quite a few online retailers charge very high shipping costs to make up for their low prices. This eats into your savings and often leaves you paying just as much, if not more, as you would at a physical location. Therefore, it’s important to find an online company that provides low shipping costs. A better option is a company that provides free shipping on their merchandise. Usually, this will mean that you have to make a minimum purchase to qualify. Thankfully, you can find online providers of medical supplies with very low minimum purchase requirements.

One of the best online retailers, providing the best discount for your medical supplies can be found here by clicking this link. You will be directed to there website.

Who Can Use Medical Supplies Bought Online?

2010-03-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

One of the benefits of buying medical supplies over the Internet is that they are often the same price, if not cheaper than the supplies that you would buy elsewhere. The company through which you order will be able to send the supplies to your house, so that you do not have to go out and spend time waiting in line at the store.

Who will be able to benefit from buying medical supplies online? Many people will find that ordering medical supplies online is a great way to get everything that they need.

People who live in rural areas that do not have easy access to a medical supply store, or even a drugstore, will find that buying the supplies they need over the web provides a huge benefit. They will be able to get all of the different types of supplies they need, and they will not have to travel for them.

Home caregivers and live in nurses will find that their patients can benefit from using these online companies that sell supplies as well. All of the different types of medical supplies their patients need, from therapeutic devices to diabetic supplies are available through online companies. Not only is ordering online easier, but you may find that it is cheaper in some cases as well.

Everyone will be able to use online medical supply companies for some purpose. Even if you are only putting together a first aid kid for the house, you can order all of the supplies from one source, making the task easier.

Find an online company that offers you great prices and discounts on the medical supplies you need to make your life simpler. It will cut down on the time you spend at the store looking for your supplies.

Buying adult diapers online. Tips and advice.

2010-03-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

Those who use adult diapers have varying levels of incontinence problems. Some users experience occasional wetting or urinary incontinence while others face serious issues. The frequency of the problem will determine the type of diapers for adults that you will use and the frequency that you must change the undergarments.

Step One

The first step when using adult diapers is to find the product that meets your needs. Incontinence pads may be all that is necessary for a mild bladder control problem. Handicapped patients or those with severe conditions require absorbent adult diapers that may need to be changed by health care workers. When selecting your incontinence products, choose one that is as inconspicuous as possible while still providing the absorbency that you need.

Step Two

Incontinence pads and liners can be carried with you when you are away from home. Make sure that you use a portable product for those times when you are away from home. Choose a product that can be easily changed while you are out of your house.

Step Three

Look for self care products to go along with your incontinence products. Those who suffer from incontinence as adults can suffer from the same skin irritations and rashes that babies and children do with diapers. There are cleaning products that can be stashed in a purse to carry along with you as well as creams and lotions that will help heal a rash or skin irritation.

Step Four

Change your adult diapers often to prevent skin problems. While many of the products on the market are very absorbent, you should still strive to remove the wet product away from your skin as soon as possible. Changing your adult diaper quickly will also help you to feel fresher longer. The adult diapers are designed to absorb urine leaks, but you will feel less than fresh when you are wearing a diaper for too long.

Step Five

If buying adult diapers is too embarrassing for you, order online. There should be no shame in purchasing diapers for adults, but many people feel too embarrassed to buy the products that they need. Online shopping allows you to get the products that you need delivered right to your door in discreet packaging. Remember, these products provide you with the flexibility and freedom that you need with an incontinence problem. Here is a great resource for buying your incontinence products discreetly.

As you use adult diapers and experiment with different products on the market, you will discover the ones that work the best for you. It may take some time to find the right brand and absorbency that meets your needs. Incontinence problems may become worse as you age and your needs may change. Medications and surgical procedures may also help your incontinence issues and allow you to use a different product. Monitor how well the products you are using are working for you and explore new options when you find your needs are not met.

Tips for Traveling with Incontinence

2010-03-11T09:20:00.000-08:00

Lounging on a beach towel under the warm sun while admiring children as they construct sand castles and listening to the ocean waves crash against each other illuminates the most relaxing vacation. The main objective of taking a vacation after all is to get in some much needed relaxation. The last thing anyone needs is to be worried about finding the closest restroom while in the midst of being at beaches, museums, amusement parks, or traveling to the destination.

For the 25 million Americans who experience urinary incontinence, traveling on planes, trains, or in cars is possible with the help of many incontinence products. Urine leakage always seems to happen at the worst possible time, and learning to manage it while traveling will prevent a stressful vacation.

Planning a vacation is time consuming especially when planning around incontinence. Having incontinence products shipped via a free home delivery program is a time-saving and cost-effective method when preparing a trip. The incontinence products are delivered right to your door each month saving you the hassle of rushing out to the store when your supply is low.

The following is a list of tips and advice for how to manage incontinence while traveling:

Transportation:

* While traveling on planes or trains make sure to sit in an aisle seat to easily access the bathrooms when needed. Sitting in an aisle seat will prevent moving in front of other passengers every time nature calls. In case urine leakage causes stains or odor, an aisle seat can also provide more confidence when sitting in a confined space for a long time.
* Planes and trains have limited waste disposal facilities which cause difficulties disposing incontinence products. Wearing a product designed for maximum protection such as protective underwear can retain greater amounts of urine leakage and control odor for lengthy plane and train commutes.
* Automobiles are a convenient mode of transportation when experiencing incontinence since rest areas are more prevalent along major highways and interstates. Having a GPS system in the automobile is essential. It provides a list of restaurants, gas stations, and other points of interest which, in turn, will give directions to the closest location for a bathroom.

Diet:

* Paying close attention to food and liquid intake while traveling can manage incontinence easier. Limit intake of salty snacks, alcohol, caffeine, and don't drink anything three to four hours prior to sleeping.
* Also, a person's understanding of which types of foods and liquids stimulate their incontinence and which foods alleviate incontinence is helpful to get the most out of every minute in paradise.

Travel Kit:
A travel kit should include:

* Plastic bags with twisty ties for clean and easy disposal
* Hand wipes and antibacterial cleansing products
* Include a variety of incontinence products:
o Pads and liners for the lightest urinary leakage (small enough to fit in purses and briefcases)
o Incontinence pants for the light to moderate urinary leakage when used with pads and liners
o Protective underwear (also known as adult pull-ups) for moderate to heavy urinary leakage
o Adult diapers for maximum urinary leakage protection
o Extra undergarments, pants, and outer clothes
o Travel soap bars and disposable wash clothes
o Organizing these items into a small duffel bag or a backpack makes it easier to travel. It's small enough to be used as a carry-on luggage on airplanes or to fit in the luggage compartment on a train or bus.

Plan Ahead:

* Whether traveling en-route to your destination or relishing the sights and sounds of the vacation, plan bathroom breaks every 20 to 30 minutes following meals.
* When visiting tourist attractions look at a map or ask guides for the location of the restrooms in case a get-a-way is needed. Since the incontinence travel pack is easily accessible, returning to the enjoyment of the expedition is quick and effortless.
* Since a person's daily routine of diet and exercise is changed while traveling, keeping a record of blood pressure and cholesterol is vital for good health and a preventative measure against the occurrence of incontinence.

Living with incontinence is simple and trouble-free if knowing how to manage and control the urinary leakage. With all the variety of incontinence products available, traveling can be more effortless than ever before. Worry about having fun on vacation, and don't worry about incontinence.

For more information about incontinence products here is a great resource for Discount Medical Supplies and incontinence products.

Cristia Medical Supply, Inc.

How to Stock Your First Aid Kit

2010-03-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

Importance of Being Well-Stocked

The use of first aid kit is universally practiced. However, only few realize the importance of properly stocking your First Aid Kit. This will ensure that you have quick access to medications and supplies needed to treat a medical condition. If your first aid kit is unable to do that, then it defeats the purpose of having one.

You need a kit that is large enough, durable, and easy to open. This will enable your kit to contain all first aid valuables so you can respond to emergency situations. You also want a kit with handles to make it easy for you to carry around during travels or family vacations.

Once you have listed down and gathered all the essential supplies for your first aid kit, carefully read the first aid manual. This will help you understand how you can use every item inside the kit. You must try to assemble your first aid kit on your own instead of buying them off your local drugstore for a more personalized approach at health care and treatment.

Basic First Aid Supplies

With basic first aid supplies, it refer to the items included in your first aid kit for general health usage. For instance, either you or someone else is wounded, you will be able to access materials in your kit that can sanitize and protect a wound to avoid infection. These materials are also versatile and can be used for a variety of medical emergencies.

*antibiotic ointment
*bandages or elastic wrap
*triangular bandage
*instant cold packs
*gauze pads or roller gauze
*cotton balls
*adhesive tape
*plastic bags
*eye goggles
*safety pins
*tweezers
*needles
*scissors
*thermometer
*antiseptic solution
*petroleum jelly
*disposable gloves, either latex or synthetic
*soap or hand sanitizer
*first aid manual

Medications

For people with chronic illnesses or a given medical condition, medications are important to have in your first aid kit. Even for those without existing medical conditions, carrying generic medications is advised to provide relief from any form of medical complaints.

*oral antihistamine
*anti-diarrhea medication
*hydrocortisone cream
*aspirin
*other pain relievers
*calamine lotion
*drugs for allergic attack (must be prescribed by your doctor)
*activated charcoal (for accidental poisoning, but must be used with proper instructions from the poison center)
*medicine cup
*syringe
*spoon

Items for Emergency Purposes

These items are essential when the patient requires emergency medical assistance beyond first aid. Hence, make sure to stock the following items on your first aid kit:

*cell phone and recharger
*list of emergency phone numbers (ex: family doctor, local emergency services, regional poison control center, emergency road service providers, etc)
*flashlight
*extra batteries
*emergency blanket
*sunscreen

Get more tips for first aid on First Aid

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Cristia Medical Supply, Inc.

WHOLESALE MEDICAL SUPPLIES

2010-03-10T06:17:00.000-08:00

Additionally, hospital supplies shipping costs from multiple vendors can add up and diminish cost save. That is of disposable medical supplies markets course depends on how much medical supplies you buy. The next time you go to the doctor and you leave with a long list of medical supplies you need from band aids to walkers you should just take a moment to surf the web and see what comparable prices are. For example, if you are shopping for medical supplies online you medical supply companies will be able to search out the medical imaging hospital supplies supplies that are the cheapest and of the highest quality. When you are shopping for medical supplies over the Internet you can really save yourself a lot of money if you know what prices you are accustomed to paying and can compare them to the online shopping prices. — Now, thanks to industry up incomer Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. buyers have access to home medical supply in a one-stop shop for all their medical needs. Nevertheless you will save something and that is important. Convenient, easy hospital medical supply companies medical supplies to use, and available whenever a business needs them; it is no wonder that Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. is the premier online source for discount medical supplies.

Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. even carries cleanroom supplies including cleanroom mats, cleanroom wipes, medical supplies latex gloves and shoe covers. As a result online shopping has become incredibly popular. Best of all, Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. has an easy to use website ) that can fulfill medical supplies face masks, lab supply, work gloves and any safety supply order 24 hours a day. In the past it was necessary to find manufacturers who specialized in the distribution of a narrow range home medical supply of safety supply products, medical supplies online australia for example, disposable apparel or lab supplies.

Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. is the Single Source Solution for Safety Supplies, Face Masks, Work Gloves, Lab supplies, and more. A quality single source supplier eliminates numerous orders medical suppliers throughout the month when glove liners, finger cots or bouffant caps are running low; instead, an order from a one-stop source fulfills every product need in one shipment. Once you medical office supplies have made your comparisons you will more than likely find that buying your medical surgical supplies and other medical medical supply company supplies over the Internet makes the most sense. There is no leaving the house and driving from store to store in emergency medical supplies and training search of the cheapest price or a certain product.

It is because of this that online shopping has become so very popular and will continue to be so for years to come if not forever. You pick out what you want over the discount medical supplies online Internet, pay for it, and it comes right to your doorstep. With the medical office supplies Internet you search for what you want and then you buy it. Restaurants, hospitals, research and science labs can all benefit from purchasing safety supplies from this trusted manufacturer.

In fact, if you do the math you will probably find out that you can save hundreds or even medical supplies thousands of dollars per year by buying your supplies over the Internet. For companies and businesses that required a wide range of contamination medical office supplies control solutions, the process of locating multiple safety supply vendors was tedious and time consuming. Don’t forget to include shipping to medical supplies online get a total amount so you will know how to make a good comparison.

In fact, it does not even medical supply companies make sense to buy your medical supplies anywhere else. Even with shipping charges added in you will be surprised at how much money you can save when you shop over the Internet. For more information please visit our site at www.cristiamedicalsupply.com

The ability to purchase face masks, work gloves, lab supplies, ESD supplies, coveralls, tacky mats and medical supplies all from one manufacturer makes the purchasing process streamlined and medical supplies online store efficient for business that require safety supplies. Call your local pharmacy and find out what they charge and compare it to the prices you find online. Of course, online shopping is popular not only because it saves time but it also allows you to find the items you are looking for at the lowest price. Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. is now poised to provide any and all types of medical supplies from a single supplier. Shop for Medical Supplies Online and Save

In today’s society time seems to be more important than ever and nobody likes wasting it.

Manage Your Diabetes Testing Supplies

2010-03-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

A case of which a person might be living with a diabetic condition, a diabetes test supply is the best way to monitor your diabetes levels so you can manage the possibility of symptoms better.Using a diabetes test supply makes your life a little easier, granting you the peace of mind that you are staying in control, managing all of the elements possible to manage.

Managing the diabetes testing supplies and items needed to control diabetes on a daily basis can be frustrating and stressful. There are several new products out on the market to make your life simpler and less stressful when it comes to managing your diabetes and your diabetes testing supplies. Many of these items are not that expensive but are really time, health and energy saving in the long run.

Daily supplies of test strips to a brand new glucose meter, there are many items associated with your diabetes test supply that you are going to need regularly. Thankfully, you now have options that include better coverage through Medicare, and sometimes you can even qualify for free delivery of the things you’ll need most to better manage your efforts and possibilities.

For those who qualify using a diabetes Medicare supplies company can significantly reduce the cost of managing this life threatening disease. These online companies work as the middle man between their customers and the Medicare bureaucracy to ensure that all the necessary paper work is filled out correctly. This allows the diabetic to receive their needed supplies on a regular schedule at no cost.

An initial blood or urine sample to the continued, careful monitoring of your glucose and insulin levels, each diabetes test supply should be specifically designed to help provide clear understanding of your best course of action. As with any physical condition, you should use the guidance of a trained medical staff to determine the best diabetes test supply to help your own unique condition, and never trust only your at-home test for the last word on your levels or your condition.

Discount Medical Supplies for Doctors or Home Use

2010-03-10T06:03:00.000-08:00

Emergencies can strike anywhere, at any time. Natural disasters are in the headlines almost every day. Earthquakes, winter storms, hurricanes and the like can afflict any part of the country at a moment's notice. Many people are coming to realize a little preparation can go a long way toward safety and recovery in such a situation.

Discount medical supplies are not just for hospitals, clinics, or physician's offices. Ideally, a household should have a couple of emergency kits on hand not just for the home, but for any place in which a lot of time is spent such as the car, school, or office. Purchasing discount medical supplies in bulk can not only save money, but provide enough material to construct emergency kits for all family members in case a catastrophic event occurs. This kits can even be made up and given to loved ones as gifts.

The first thing to do when constructing a medical kit is to assess the needs of the household. Many people or their family members suffer from a range of serious medical conditions, and in the event of an emergency situation, may find themselves without the medical supplies they need for treatment or maintenance. Thanks to the internet, there are multiple venues available in which to purchase discount medical supplies at an affordable price.

The content of an emergency kit depends on the needs of household members, but a basic kit could contain the following:

- Thermometer for taking temperatures

- Rubbing alcohol to cleanse wounds and sterilization

- Tweezers for the removal of glass, splinters, ticks, etc.

- Bandages and adhesive tape

- Cotton gauze

- Cold and hot packs

- Scissors

- Cotton-tipped swabs

In addition to medical supplies, some basic medications can also be included such as:

- Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibruprophen

- Cortisone cream

- Calamine lotion

- Antihistamines, such as Benadryl

- Antibacterial cream or ointment

- Petroleum jelly

- Antibacterial soap

- Hand sanitizer

- Saline

If a member of the household suffers from severe allergies, it may be a good idea to keep an epinephrine pen on hand for emergencies. Other discount medical supplies or equipment that could come in handy in case of emergencies are diabetic testing strips, discount pregnancy test, discount stethoscope, and a blood pressure monitor, dependent on the health and condition of your family members.

No one can predict when an emergency will strike or what kind of damage it can leave in its wake. It is best to be prepared, especially when it might be difficult to get to a store because of weather conditions or a natural disaster. Having an emergency kit available in several places in the home, the car, at the office, or at school can save valuable time in the case of an accident until professionals can arrive on the scene.

A little bit of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A small investment in discount medical supplies could provide several emergency kits and best of all, peace of mind.

Discounted Diabetic Supplies

2010-03-10T05:48:00.000-08:00

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Discounted Diabetic Supplies

Disaster Planning For Technology-Dependent Patients

2010-03-10T05:37:00.000-08:00

When a major disaster such as the Haiti earthquake strikes, it reminds us of the vulnerability of people who are dependent on long-term oxygen and ventilators at home. Yet the conversation between respiratory care clinicians and patients about emergency planning needs to continue long after the headlines fade.

It may seem like a daunting task to increase your patients' preparedness, especially when their complex care plans appear overwhelming on a daily basis. The key is to make discussions frequent, short, realistic, and specific to your patients.

Assess needs

While an all-hazard approach to disaster planning is important, it also helps to know what types of emergencies, human caused and natural, have occurred in your area. This can help customize your planning. For example, if your patients have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and live in an area prone to wildfires, they need to be aware that smoke and fire debris raise the risk of respiratory distress.

Also consider the physical structure where your patients live. If they reside in apartments, how will they exit if the elevators are not accessible? The apartment complex may have an emergency generator, but does it only power main corridors? You will want to figure out these answers long before a disaster hits.

If they live in houses, make sure they own backup generators of adequate size and they have enough fresh gasoline fuel stored safely to support equipment, lighting, and appliances for 72 hours. Draw the floor plans of their homes to identify escape routes and safe places to stay for each type of disaster. If a patient cannot reach a basement during a tornado, is there a first-floor room without windows?

Determine several methods for your patients to communicate during an emergency. It may seem obvious that they should keep a cell phone charged and have extra batteries. But cell phone towers may be down or overwhelmed. A touch-tone phone that does not require an electrical outlet is a possible alternative. Think about how they also could access email, pagers, text messaging, two-way radios, and ham radios. Remind your patients to keep emergency numbers handy.

Familiarize your patients with their medical equipment. Ensure that they know the working time of any internal batteries that support their ventilator systems and how low-battery alarms operate. Contact their medical equipment vendor to determine ways to recharge batteries if the electricity fails, such as connecting jumper cables to a vehicle battery or using a converter that plugs into a cigarette lighter.

Gather supplies

Many checklists are available to create a basic disaster survival kit. You can help your technology-dependent patients acquire other "must-have" items specific to their conditions. Patients who use oxygen should have a full backup cylinder that will last at least 48 hours. Advise them to contact their oxygen supplier and ask if and how the supplier will provide refills during a crisis. They should find out the priority of deliveries in such cases and exactly where they stand on that list. It is likely home oxygen delivery trucks will be delayed or unable to travel, so this should not be patients' only plan.

When preparing for these worst-case scenarios, consult with your patients' physicians about what flow rate adjustments can be made to stretch out oxygen supplies. Be sure to record the reduced flow numbers on the equipment so that your patients can refer to them easily. Another approach is to teach your patients how to use a home pulse oximeter to titrate and conserve oxygen during an emergency.

If appropriate, practice pursed-lip breathing with your patients, which helps to bring up their oxygen levels when they start to feel anxious and short of breath.

Patients who use ventilators should check with their insurers to see if they qualify to receive a secondary emergency ventilator or at least a backup rechargeable battery. Other equipment and items to have readily available include cleaning supplies for respiratory equipment, portable suction equipment, secretion clearing aids such as a cough in-exsufflator, extra ventilator circuits, spare tracheostomy supplies, and a manual resuscitation bag.

Your patients should have a two-week supply of medication on hand, although insurance rules may make this difficult. Be sure patients know how to store medications appropriately and to rotate it before it expires. Recommend that they keep the patient information handouts that come with each prescription in a plastic bag so that they will have a convenient list of medications.

If your patients use stationary nebulizers for breathing treatments, advise them to consult their physicians about using metered-dose inhalers as a substitute, in case the power fails. Purchasing a portable, battery-powered nebulizer is another option.

Help your patients assemble copies of important documents: vital patient care information, prescriptions, equipment make and serial numbers, a living will, medical power of attorney, and insurance cards.

Establishing a support team

Encourage your patients to establish a universal support team by contacting the utility company, police and fire departments, and local emergency management office. Patients should let these offices know they are dependent on life-support devices and should be put on priority response lists if they exist.

Often, however, the first responders in a disaster will not be trained emergency personnel. They will be family, neighbors, friends, and co-workers. Your patients should not expect to rely on any one person, such as a personal attendant, who may not be available within minutes if a major disaster strikes.

They should build their support team anywhere they spend a large part of their day - work, home, school, and volunteer sites. Traits to look for are people who are strong, calm, dependable, and good communicators. Offer your patients assistance in teaching others how to operate and repair their equipment. Suggest simple written instructions for laminated cards that can be attached to equipment.

It is also important to cover evacuation plans. At what point should your patients leave their homes, where will they go, and how will they get there? Identify at least two sites - preferably with family or friends - where they could relocate and store backup equipment.

Going to a shelter is usually a last resort because they can be uncomfortable, germy, cold places. Some communities, such as those in hurricane-prone regions, have medical shelters that provide supervised care to pre-registered people with specific medical needs.

Wherever your patients go, make sure they know to bring supplies, important papers, and extra clothing. If possible, they should notify their medical equipment provider in advance so that oxygen refills can be redirected there.

Once your patients have reviewed their response plans with their physicians and given copies to their support team, do not sit back and wait for a disaster to happen. Practice emergency drills and make revisions as necessary. Your commitment to continuous disaster planning and education will save lives.

What Kinds of Medical Supplies Are Online?

2010-03-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

What kinds of medical supplies are offered online?Whether you are a patient looking for new healthcare equipment and supplies, or the representative of a hospital or clinic, you will have a wide variety of supplies to choose from.There are a few ways to categorize all of these products.

For example, you can shop by category name.Some of the most common categories include medical items, such as catheters and syringes, as well as wound care, which encompasses tape, gauze and dressings.Patients who have suffered an injury or some type of atrophy may need regular exercise to bring their body back to health.In this case, exercise equipment would be helpful.Exercise equipment can be small (like a tension ball) or even a full stationary pedal bike.

Patients may need help with healing, and thus would benefit from orthopedics and other medical supplies.Daily living aids can be anything from hearing aids to eating aids to even shopping carts for groceries.Lastly, a patient who has been ordered to stick to a special diet can choose to buy healthy energy drinks, foods high in fiber or glucose-control products.

Diabetes supplies can be a matter of life and death.Thus, products like test strips, needs, syringes and meters are sold with healthcare equipment.Some examples of miscellaneous patient care items include seat cushions, heel and elbow protectors, traction supplies and shoulder relaxers.

Why are medical supplies so important?Because these items are part of rehabilitative therapy.When you use quality items in treatment (whether as a hospital or clinic or just as a patient buying your own equipment) your recovery will usually go smoothly.You can find affordable medical supplies online and categorized according to condition, body part or general area of practice.

Ask for a discount on quantity purchases!

Buying Exercise and Medical Supplies Online

2010-03-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

Today, you can order just about anything you could ever want over the Internet. You will be able to find companies that offer all of the different medical supplies that you could possibly need, as well as rehabilitation and exercise equipment. You can order everything you need through a single company, which makes ordering easier.

When it comes to medical supplies, you will find diabetic supplies, ostomy supplies, bandages and first aid supplies, and everything else you might want. Some of the companies even offer surgical supplies, and many clinics order through these companies. One of the reasons that so many people, as well as clinics, nurses, and physicians order through the online companies is because they offer supplies at a reduced price. You can find them cheaper than at the brick and mortar stores, and you can sometimes find companies that even offer free shipping.

These companies will also often have exercise equipment. You can find everything from exercise balls to finger exercisers, stationary cycles, elliptical trainers, inversion tables, and trampolines. You can also find gloves and dietary supplements on these sites.

Besides being able to save money, one of the other reasons that these companies are gaining in popularity is because you can have everything delivered to your door. You will not have to head out to several stores to buy all of the medical supplies you need – you will be able to do it all in one quick and easy online stop.

With so many advantages, and all of the various types of equipment and supplies that people can buy, it is no wonder that these online stores are rising in popularity. Visit one of the sites to see if they have the types of supplies that you need and find out just how much you can save.

medical supplies

Reasons to Purchase Online Medical Supplies

2010-03-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

Don’t Forget these Supplies in your Vehicle’s First Aid Kit

2010-03-08T20:07:00.000-08:00

When we think of the items that should be kept in vehicle first aid kits, a few common wound care supplies come to mind:

Antiseptic cleansing wipes Plastic adhesive bandages Butterfly closure strips Antibiotic ointment Burn relief cream

Since the purpose of an automobile first aid kit is to be prepared for unexpected situations, you may want to ensure that your vehicle is stocked with these less obvious safety supplies to ensure preparedness in different types of emergencies:

First aid tape, cotton tipped applicators and gauze in a range of sizes: While the basic wound care supplies mentioned above are important to keep in any vehicle first aid kit, having gauze in a variety of sizes as well as other wound care supplies provides the ability to treat wounds of varying severity. Instant cold compresses: An instant cold compress is a small pack that becomes extremely cold and acts as an ice pack when activated. An instant ice pack can be used to alleviate swelling when ice is not available, as is usually the case in roadside emergencies. Emergency blanket: Emergency blankets use reflective foil to trap body heat and maintain optimal body temperature in cold environments. Emergency blankets can be life savers in the event that you get stranded with no heat in frigid winter temperatures. Disposable gloves: Disposable gloves such as latex gloves, vinyl exam gloves or disposable nitrile gloves protect against the spread of germs when administering or receiving first aid. Gloves help prevent the spread of germs from the hands to a wound and vice versa in an emergency situation.

A vehicle first aid kit may not be something you think about often, but having the right medical supplies on hand to deal with unpredictable circumstances is an important part of vehicle safety. While we recommend keeping a complete first aid kit in your vehicle to prepare for emergencies, we also hope you never have to use it!

Undergarments For Adults

2010-03-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

Depends undergarments for adults who have urine leakage problems are made for both men and women. They are made in many sizes and styles to fit the needs of a large variety of people. There are styles that can be put on in a seated position or standing. For bedridden adults some garments can be changed while the patient is lying down. There are enormous numbers of styles and sizes for adults who are always incontinent to those who have only an occasional urine leakage. If the leakage occurs only at night, the need may be for only a small amount of protection if the person wakes up and is able to use the bathroom during the night. If the man or woman is a heavy sleeper, perhaps due to the use of medication, there will probably be a need for a larger amount of protection to keep pajamas and bedding dry through the night.

There is protection for the individual who has lost complete bladder control. The back of the brief, with straps unfastened, can be slipped under a bedridden person. Then the front of the brief can be pulled up between his legs and the six straps can be easily fastened for complete security and hours of protection. The caregiver will then be able to leave the patient for several hours to take care other needs. Or, a caregiver in a nursing home may have several incontinent patients who will need changing during this time.

Depends undergarments for uncontrollable urine leakage can be purchased in supermarkets and drug stores. They can also be ordered by phone or online and delivered to your home in an unmarked package. Uncontrollable urine leakage can be caused by many factors. They can be temporary and unexpected. The incontinence can be heavy and embarrassing to the individual if there is an occurrence when he is in public. Urine leakage can also be unexpected and light or it can occur suddenly when one laughs, coughs or sneezes.

Depends undergarments are made in styles for both men and women. A great convenience is an undergarment for men made with a cuplike shape to fit a man’s anatomy. These garments are made in styles to control a small amount of leakage and others for a greater amount. There are other briefs and diapers for heavy incontinence. Many of these products can be purchased in a familiar drug store or at a supermarket. If large quantities are needed, they can be ordered discreetly online or by phone. There are many choices for the problems presented by incontinence. One can feel confident that one can solve incontinence problems easily.

Depends undergarments will meet all of your needs. There are solutions for all problems. For your privacy, packages of incontinence products ordered by phone or online can be delivered to your address in a plain wrapper. This will be an additional convenience when there is a frequent need. Ordering a large supply which will be delivered to a specific address will cut down on trips to the drug store and it will eliminate carrying packages.

Incontience Products

Seniors, Pay Attention! Buy Medical Supplies/equipment Online & Save Large

2010-03-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

Imagine this; you can now purchase just about any and all home medical supplies and/or Equipment online. This offers the public a chance at huge savings in health care. You can also find any type or brand of equipment you might need for rehabilitation therapy or for just ordinary exercise to keep in shape or even for ordinary weight loss.

It is the truth that buying medical supplies, or just about anything online is a much more affordable option than buying the same item(s) from a brick and mortar store. Everyone now day?s wants convenience and lower prices, and online vendors deliver.

Also, such online merchants are the place for one stop shopping; from over the counter medicines to pain management, mobility equipment and more. In some instances, you can also order prescription medicines. You can sometimes find all your required medical supplies/equipment right at one stop.

Buying medical supplies online is always less expensive when compared to the brick and mortar counterpart, the reason being such stores always have an offer or sales on the go allowing buyers to pick the supplies using several different discount rates. Online stores also do not have to finance a huge inventory because most of the time, they ship direct from the manufacturer to you. Also, such online stores often have the best-sellers and the newest from the top brands, this gives you the freedom of choice and best value for your money.

You will also find, free shipping and door to door-delivery comes as a common service in most of these online stores. Above all, buying online takes place in the comfort, security, and privacy of your own home in just a mouse-click, which saves considerable time and effort.

The benefit of an improved quality of life for a patient who stays at home is more and more widely recognized. Sometimes it is necessary for a patient to stay in a hospital setting, but it is often best for him/her to go home for recovery. Patients and doctors know this. It has now become much easier for patients to get the appropriate home medical supplies, which is most fortunate. Home nursing care is also becoming more common as well, and patients get to take back many aspects of their lives as they recover.

Advances in home medical supplies now allow for the treatment and recovery from a huge variety of illnesses and injuries. These advances benefit society and the patient alike since fewer beds are taken up in hospitals and institutions, and patients get to interact with others in their own homes. We may be moving away from the practice of extended families caring for their sick, but we are closer to the time when the sick can again recover in the comfort of their own homes.

When buying online, not only can you afford better quality products, you are also assured that you keep your privacy.. You don’t feel embarrassed when you order certain products when you buy online, which is a relief to people who are self-conscious walking into a store to buy incontinence undergarments. Take time to check out various medical supply sites to find the products that are available to the public.

If the health services used in the treatment of an illness or injury are both reasonable and necessary, they will be eligible for Medicare coverage, just check with a Medicare certified home health care agency.

This agency might be able to provide the following services which would also be covered by Medicare.
Part-time or intermittent nursing care by an rpn or LPN
Therapy, either Personal or occupational
Durable medical equipment
Medical social services
Medical supplies that are part of your care, including dressing of wounds

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Cristia Medical Supply, Inc.

Medicare Part B: What Does It Cover?

2010-03-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Medicare--the federal government-sponsored health insurance program for the elderly and disabled--provides health coverage for most Americans over age 65 and for those considered permanently disabled.

However, Medicare enrollees often are surprised to find the program does not cover all their medical expenses. The Medicare program actually is split into four parts: Part A (hospitalization), Part B (outpatient services), Part D (drug coverage) and Medicare Advantage managed care plans (Part C). This article describes what Medicare Part B does and does not cover.

Part B Pays for Physician Visits
Medicare Part B covers eligible physician services, outpatient hospital services, some home health services, and durable medical equipment (such as crutches or a walker).

Eligible physician services include a one-time "Welcome to Medicare" physical exam, but do not include routine physicals. The Welcome to Medicare exam must take place within the first 12 months of enrollment, and the Medicare Part B deductible does not apply.

Beyond this first routine physical exam, patients need to have a reason to consult a doctor for the visit to be covered. Practically speaking, though, most patients will visit their physician for a specific reason (for example, to monitor high blood pressure or diabetes), rather than for a routine physical, and Medicare will cover the cost.

Outpatient Medical/Surgical Services, Diagnostic Tests Covered

Over the past two decades or more, hospitals have shifted much of their surgery business to the outpatient clinic; physicians often perform such services as colonoscopy and cataract surgery on an outpatient basis. Medicare Part B covers outpatient medical and surgical services and supplies, along with ambulatory surgery center facility fees, for procedures considered medically necessary. For example, Medicare would pay for cataract surgery, but would not pay for laser surgery to eliminate the need for eyeglasses.

Medicare Part B also covers medically necessary diagnostic laboratory testing ordered by a physician, such as blood tests, urinalysis, and some screening tests, as long as the services are provided by a laboratory that meets Medicare requirements. Medicare does not require a co-payment on lab services. And, Part B covers second surgical opinions, outpatient mental health care, and outpatient physical and occupational therapy (including speech-language therapy).

Durable Medical Equipment Rented, Purchased
Medicare Part B also covers durable medical equipment, defined as equipment that is long lasting, used in the home, related to a medical condition, and that generally would not be useful to someone who isn't sick or injured.

Examples of durable medical equipment that's included in Medicare Part B coverage are wheelchairs, oxygen equipment, walkers, dialysis machines, hospital beds, traction equipment and patient lifts. Medicare Part B also pays for arm, leg, back, and neck braces, medical supplies such as ostomy bags, surgical dressings, splints and casts, breast prostheses following a mastectomy, and one pair of eyeglasses with an intraocular lens after cataract surgery.

Depending on the type of durable medical equipment needed, Medicare may rent or purchase the item outright for the beneficiary.

Part B also covers some supplies for diabetics, including blood sugar (glucose) test strips, blood sugar monitors, lancets and supplies, and glucose control solutions for checking test strip and monitor accuracy.

Part B Premiums and Deductibles for 2010
For 2010, most Medicare beneficiaries pay $96.40, which is unchanged from 2009. Beneficiaries who have the Social Security Administration withhold their Part B premium from their social security benefit payment and who also have incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint filers) did not see an increase in their Part B premium in 2010.

Medicare beneficiaries whose income is more than $85,000 (or $170,000 for joint filers) may pay higher Part B premiums due to their higher income level.

Medicare beneficiaries must meet a $155 deductible in 2010, after which they are responsible for paying a co-payment totaling 20% of the Medicare approved amount for any Part B-eligible services they receive.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance Pays Additional Costs
Many Medicare beneficiaries choose to purchase Medicare supplemental health insurance, which fills in the "gaps" in Medicare coverage (these policies also are called Medigap policies). Medicare supplemental insurance policies generally cover some or all of the co-payments and deductibles, and also can pay for many expenses that Medicare does not cover, such as preventive care services.

If you are in need of medical equipment and supplies, most all of your medical supply needs can be purchased here online at www.cristiamedicalsupply.com

Diabetic Supplies And Medicare

2010-03-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

Diabetes is a disease whereby the body does not produce insulin or cannot use the insulin it creates effectively. Insulin reduces the amount of glucose in the blood. High glucose levels in the blood are harmful to the body and indicates that the body can't convert glucose into energy that it needs to function. Consequently diabetics with type 1 diabetes have to monitor their glucose levels and inject insulin into the body to perform this function. Diabetics with type 2 diabetes also have to monitor their condition but don't have to inject insulin. They might take medication that makes the body more responsive to the insulin that their body creates or simply exercise regularly and eat a specialized diet. As yet there is no cure for diabetes so this treatment and care is a lifelong task. Diabetic supplies are needed to perform this treatment and can become costly over a long time period as they need to be replenished every month or so. This is where Medicare can often help. They can subsidize some of the supplies that are needed. This article will outline some of the supplies needed to treat diabetes and how Medicare helps with the costs of the supplies.

Medicare and Diabetes

Medicare is a Federal health insurance program run by the Health Care Financing Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. Medicare covers people over 65 and people with disabilities. It comes in two forms : Part A and Part B.

Part A Medicare covers costs like hospital bills, nursing homes and hospices. Most people eligible for Medicare get Part A for no cost.

Part B is concerned with diagnostic and screening tests and medical supplies and equipment. Most people eligible for Medicare have to pay a monthly premium to receive the benefits of Medicare Part B. However in some cases assistance can be given to people that cannot afford the monthly premium.

Screening for diabetes is free under Medicare. You may receive two tests per year for diabetes.

Diabetic testing supplies like a glucose monitor, testing strips and lancets are covered by Part B of Medicare. You pay 20% of the Medicare approved cost for these items. Before you can take advantage of this saving you have to get a certified statement from your health care provider. This can be given to the pharmacy where you get your supplies from along with a Medicare claim.

Training and education on treating diabetes is also covered by Part B. Your health care provider must approve that you need assistance with your management of diabetes. You will pay 20% of the costs of the approved Medicare programs.

Medicare does not cover things like insulin, syringes, insulin pumps or diabetic medication.

Summary

Medicare is aimed at making some of the essential items for diabetes treatment available at a lower cost. It does not cover all the medication and equipment that you need however so be sure to budget for these items. Insulin and Syringes, for example can be picked up on the Internet at very reasonable prices. There are many sources for these products. One of the most competitive places I have found for the diabetic supplies online is Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. They also are equiped to serve most all of your medical supply needs. They can found here- www.cristiamedicalsupply.com

Discount Diabetic Supplies: Low-Cost Options For Your Health Maintenance

2010-03-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

Diabetes is a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of people each year: without the proper management, diabetes can keep people from leading healthy, productive lives. Diabetes disease management, however, is not only difficult but costly. People with some types of diabetes need frequent insulin shots, or have to take oral insulin, both of which can be expensive. As a result, discount diabetic supplies are in high demand.

What diabetic medical supplies are required, and why are they needed by diabetics? Because diabetics can also suffer from a wide variety of complications, they also need to undergo different treatment regimens that can help ease these complications. Such complications can include cardiovascular disease, renal or kidney failure, liver failure, hypertension, and general organ and tissue damage.

Why is Insulin So Important?

There are three principal types of diabetes, and all of them involve the inability of pancreatic cells to produce the metabolic hormone insulin. Insulin aids in the breakdown of complex sugars and carbohydrates into forms that the body can use for energy. If insulin is not present in large quantities, or if insulin is not present in functional form, sugar levels can increase substantially in the blood. This can cause widespread tissue and organ damage, and, in extreme cases, result in sugar shock and eventual coma.

Type I Diabetes

Type I diabetes was once called juvenile diabetes, as it was often found and diagnosed in children. Type I diabetes is essentially an autoimmune disease. People with Type I diabetes have overactive immune systems that destroy the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, so that they require constant doses of insulin.

Type II

Type II diabetes develops in adulthood, and is often associated with obesity, which scientists find is a large risk factor for this type of diabetes. In Type II diabetes, the body’s tissues and organs are resistant to insulin. This condition is similar to the third type of diabetes, which is called gestational or pregnancy-induced diabetes. Gestational diabetes arises because higher levels of pregnancy hormones can make organs more resistant to insulin; this diabetes type, however, generally disappears after delivery.

Insulin therefore has to be produced in large amounts in order to cater to the needs of rising numbers of people suffering from diabetes. This important hormone was once sourced from cadaver pancreases, which was a highly inefficient method that made insulin shots expensive. In the advent of recombinant DNA technology, however, microbial cells are used to produce large amounts of human insulin, which can then be harvested and purified from the microbial culture.

Today, insulin is available in oral or tablet form, which can be useful in dealing with all types of diabetes. However, insulin shots work best for Type II diabetics who are too far advanced in the disease and whose bodies do not have adequate resources to respond to tablets. Recently, insulin has also been approved in inhaled form, although this type of insulin is prescribed for people suffering from Type I diabetes.

What are Diabetic Supplies Used For?

In general, diabetic insulin supplies can be expensive: if not in oral form, people suffering from diabetes need syringes and specifically designed inhalers to deliver insulin. For people who are far advanced in the disease, dialysis machines can be in demand in order to clean out the kidneys or liver, and generally rid the body of toxins that its organs can no longer properly dispose of.

Many corporations and insurance companies can be contacted to provide information on diabetes supplies, as well as free diabetes supplies for patients who are in immediate need of therapy. For instance, Liberty diabetic supplies and Medicare are common examples of providers that work closely with doctors in ensuring proper medical care for diabetics, as well as efficient disease management.

Supplies For Diabetic Complications

There are also medical supplies that are used in therapy regimens that deal with complications of diabetes. For instance, diabetes can impede blood circulation and can damage the nerves of the feet. People with diabetes often need to undergo foot amputation in order to get rid of gangrenous tissue or foot ulcers. To prevent this from occurring, physicians will often prescribe physical therapy, which can require special machines to carry out. Physical therapy can keep nerves active, and muscles toned.

If you are suffering from any form of diabetes, you might be recommended some forms of therapy that will require you to purchase discount diabetic supplies. Always consult with your doctors and insurance company about them, as well as low-cost or free alternatives that are reliable and matched to your needs. With good maintenance, you can keep your diabetes in check, and you can still be healthy.

Haitian Streets Are Safer Now

2010-03-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

With the security being beefed up in the country, now it seems that the streets in Haiti are very much safer than what they were a few days before. The number of peace keepers and the relief forces has almost multiplied in the past few days as the security in the country was becoming uncontrollable. The US troops are working hard to ensure that the aid reaches the ones who are in immediate need. The relief operations have proved to be completely meaningful in the past as the looters and the rioters were making the things tougher. Now that the forces have become strict towards the peace disrupters, now the scenes of violence and looting are rarely found.

The security condition has been calmed and now the relief operators are being able to focus their concentration on the relief work only. In the past few days the relief operations has became quite tough as the looters were making efforts to loot the food packages and the poor sufferers who have been sheltering in the relief camps. The law and order problem is also under control as the police personnel of Haiti have also involved themselves in this with their complete capability.

There were some major stopping factors that were not making it possible for the peace keepers to perform the relief operations. Some of the major problems faced by the military troops and the U.N forces included attack on food, transportation bottlenecks and in many situations bureaucratic confusion. Now the foreign powers providing aid to the country are sure that there efforts are going to lead in the right direction as there are no major obstacles. Looking at all these advances it seems that the condition of security in Haiti is improving day by day and will surely reach in its original place within a short time.

Now the supply of the relief cargos has been made speedy and within a short span of time supply of pure water and hygienic food is going to reach all the relief camps. Now the only thing that needs immediate attention is the medical supplies. The looters have already done much harm to the medical supply and now the doctors are without appropriate supplies that are making their condition desperate. There are not many hospitals that have survived the natural calamity properly and this is why the people of Haiti are entirely dependent on the foreign teams.

Once the chaos of the late arrivals is settled out, the country would start getting proper supply of medicines and other necessary supplies. Almost every one in the world is hoping that the security condition in Haiti remains stable, there is no food insecurity and the sufferers get appropriate medical attention. Now the military forces are also working in the direction of ensuring that the flights at the airports land and take off at a good speed and the food convoys reach safely to the ones who are in urgent need of these.

Wound Dressings - Composites

2010-03-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

AED s save lives. They are easy to use devices that can save the victim of a sudden cardiac arrest.It s not uncommon for those stricken with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to be left with equilibrium and vision problems. The process of maintaining balance involves input not only from the visual system but also from the balance organs of the inner ear and the joint and muscle receptors. If a head injury patient complains of double vision, headaches, blurry vision, or dizziness, or if he has trouble concentrating, easily loses his place when reading, can t find the beginning of the next line when reading, or has trouble understanding or retaining what he reads, he may have Post Trauma Vision Syndrome (PTVS). Other symptoms include low blink rate (staring behavior) and spatial disorientation.Have you ever been in a situation where you had to provide first aid and didn t have the supplies you needed? In this article I will identify the basic items to keep in your first aid kit whether you are at home or on the road. You never know when you will need to administer first aid to yourself, your friends or your loved ones.Composite dressings are dressings that combine the advantages of multiple layers, providing more than one function in wound care management. Each layer of dressing is physiologically distinct. To learn how to use these dressings, and when not to, read on.Emergency crash carts are an important element of any emergency room in a hospital. These carts keep supplies and equipment well organized and mobile for quick access in emergency situations. buy altace online buy cafergot online buy cozaar online buy aceon online 5-Hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP Oxitriptan buy abana online buy cholestoplex online buy clozaril online buy compazine online buy etodolac online buy flexisyn online buy haldol online buy innopran xl online buy ponstel online buy probalan online buy pyridium online buy zanaprin online

In line with the trends of the last 3-4 years, many insurance companies have announced their claims statistics for critical illness cover. As a brief reminder, the idea with critical illness cover is that it will pay out a lump sum (usually) in the event of diagnosis of a number of serious illnesses. Critical illness cover is purchased for a variety of reasons, with the main ones being to cover a mortgage loan (both personal and business) and for family protection purposes.Many health care professionals use transparent dressings on a frequent basis, but may not be aware of the purpose of these dressings. Read on to discover everything you ever needed to know about transparent film dressings.The main goal for treatment of cardiogenic shock is reestablishing myocardial circulation, minimize heart muscle damage, and improve the pumping function of the heart. First-line treatment can utilize antishock trousers which compress the legs and shunt blood flow to the vital organs.Parents who have a newly diagnosed child or a chronically ill child never know when their child will end up in the hospital. Often routine doctor visits or blood draws result in abnormal findings which warrant an unexpected admission to the local hospital or worse yet, a major hospital out of town. These tips will help parents always be prepared for the unexpected if their child is dealing with a long term illness.Composite dressings are dressings that combine the advantages of multiple layers, providing more than one function in wound care management. Each layer of dressing is physiologically distinct.

Internal Medicine Challenges During the Initial Phase of the Haitian Disaster Response

2010-03-03T07:25:00.000-08:00

Internists on the COMFORT functioned as ward physicians for both surgical and medical patients. Six internists provided 24-hour coverage for more than 350 patients, allowing surgical staff to focus on needed emergency surgery.

Patients were triaged in the ship's casualty receiving area upon arrival, registered, and given a unique patient identification number. The COMFORT used a paper-based medical record, with computerized laboratory and radiology reports. The initial flood of patients sometimes delayed even urgent surgery. Constant communication between internal medicine and surgical staffs was required for intial triage and re-triage as the census swelled. Tracking patients' requirements for radiographic studies, initial surgery, reexploration and washout, wound care, and discharge required a team approach between surgeons, internists, nurses, wound care specialists, and discharge planners.

Most patients arrived with no known medical history. The number of patients presenting during the intial flow precluded a comprehensive evaluation of all patients. Many patients were dehydrated and malnourished and had life- and limb-threatening injuries that required emergent operative care. Initial laboratory evaluation was limited to selected patients with severe illness. Once patients were stabilzed, directed laboratory evaluation showed striking abnormalities. A majority of patients had severe anemia. Hemoglobin values under 70 g/L were common. Hypoalbuminemia with albumin levels less than 20 g/L was routine. Severe electrolyte disorders were frequent, particularly serum potassium levels less than 2 mmol/L and greater than 7 mmol/L and sodium levels less than 130 mmol/L.

Haiti's limited health care infrastructure complicated discharge plans. Dedicated discharge planners sought local medical facilities willing to accept stable postsurgical patients in Haiti for convalescence, wound care, and rehabilitation. These included local Haitian facilities outside the eathquake's damage zone, as well as NGO and U.S. armed forces land-based field clinics. Few complicated patients (those with tetraplegia, paraplegia, or extensive burns) were sent by medical evacuation to the United States, with anticipation of their return to Haiti after treatment. The requirement of helicopter or boat transportation of patients to or from land further complicated discharges.

Ostomy Supplies and Options - Information is a Vital Health Tool

2010-03-03T07:19:00.000-08:00

Equipping and MRI suite is not an easy task. Due to the high sensitivity of the MRI machines all equipment in and surrounding the suite must be made of non-magnetic materials.Care giving for a survivor of traumatic brain injury or TBI can be trying at times but with knowledge, patience, and most of all love for the survivor will you get through those times. Rest assured that you are not alone when it comes to these issues. Seek out the trusted help needed to get through.When the compression position is right, it will be indicated by the light, which is located in the central position in the chest, with green flash. And wrong position will be indicated by red flash. The compression times is indicated by the counter, which is located on the left side of the monitor. Some procedures will be guided by audio instruction.A pneumothorax is also known as a collapsed lung. It is basically the accumulation of air inside the pleural cavity. A pneumothorax if left untreated can be deadly. Below are some of the symptoms and treatments available.The information provided below is meant to educate the patient about the options available to hip replacement candidates. Ultimately your surgeon will make these decisions. buy altace online buy cafergot online buy cozaar online buy aceon online 5-Hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP Oxitriptan buy abana online buy cholestoplex online buy clozaril online buy compazine online buy etodolac online buy flexisyn online buy haldol online buy innopran xl online buy ponstel online buy probalan online buy pyridium online buy zanaprin online

Medical procedures that require a form of ostomy are seldom comfortable or convenient. The ostomy procedure itself is unpleasant and is usually only performed when it is absolutely necessary and in the best interest of the patient. One of the most common forms of ostomy procedure is the colostomy. This procedure consists of a stoma which is a hole in the abdomen by which waste is drawn from the intestines.A stroke, otherwise known as a Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA), occurs when blood vessels that are supposed to deliver oxygen to all parts of the brain become ruptured or clogged. When this occurs, the affected area of the brain does not get the oxygen-rich blood flow that it needs. Without oxygen, the nerve cells in the affected area die within minutes. Dead nerve cells cannot be replaced. This is why the effects of a stroke are often permanent.Burns are responsible for about 3,000-5,000 deaths per year in the United States (Merck, 2005; Oxbridge, 2008). In addition, 1 million emergency room visits are due to burn injury in the U.S. (Merck, 2005).Concussions in children can be as severe as a blackout, or as mild as a flash of confusion. Running and playing is a natural instinct, and things can get in the way. A head injury may just be a small bump from trauma on the head, and a headache that doesn t want to go away. But sometimes, that headache means it s time to sit down and stay instead of going outside to play.Medical procedures that require a form of ostomy are seldom comfortable or convenient. The ostomy procedure itself is unpleasant and is usually only performed when it is absolutely necessary and in the best interest of the patient. One of the most common forms of ostomy procedure is the colostomy. This procedure consists of a stoma which is a hole in the abdomen by which waste is drawn from the intestines.1267568414

Caring for Diabetes and Incontinence

2010-03-01T19:23:00.000-08:00

According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 8% of the American population has been diagnosed with diabetes. It is estimated that nearly 5.7 million people are undiagnosed diabetics and another 5.7 million people are pre-diabetics. Because of this widespread disease, many medical supply companies charge exorbitant prices for diabetic testing supplies. They know the demand for supplies will remain high. At TwinMed Direct, their medical supply prices are unbeatable and they have top notch customer service representatives to help you find exactly what you need.
Ignoring diabetes is not an option. Just look at the data. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the US in 2006. Diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 20 to 74. Diabetes causes kidney failure, nervous system damage, and amputation. It also leads to a myriad of other minor inconveniences, including incontinence.
So what can a person on a tight, fixed income do to combat the costs of diabetes care? First, learn as much as you can about diabetes and how to manage the disease. For about 90% of individuals with the disease, diabetes can be managed with exercise and diet. Their disease is simply caused by the body’s inability to use glucose, its most common fuel. This leads to many dangerous complications. For others, medications and insulin injections are necessary.
For type 1 diabetics, their disease is auto-immune, meaning the immune systems turns against a certain part of the body and attacks it. The immune system attacks and kills beta cells, which produce insulin in the pancreas. The pancreas can no longer produce enough, if any, insulin. Insulin injections must be taken daily in order to survive. Testing for glucose build up is essential for diabetes care. Testing is the only measure standing between health and frequent hospital visits, or worse. Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. carries all the testing supplies type 1 and type 2 diabetics require, most of which are on sale now.
For both types of diabetes, extreme thirst and frequent urination are common. In the elderly, many patients don’t make it to the restroom in time, leading to incontinence. Cristia Medical Supply, Inc. also has nitrile gloves, perineal ointments and protective undergarments on sale to help curb the costs of incontinence. Keeping the skin clean, protected and dry prevents infections that turn dangerous in diabetic patients. moist wipes, nitrile exam gloves, ointments which protect as well as heal and protective undergarments all essential items for incontinence care, and can not be neglected any more than diabetic testing supplies can be neglected.

Ostomy Supplies and Options - Information is a Vital Health Tool

2010-03-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

Wounds need to be scrubbed out with soap and water and well irrigated with clean water and Betadyne Surgical Scrub to remove any debris. Don t use alcohol, iodine, mercurochrome or peroxide on the wound as it may cause further damage, and slow the healing process. Debris and bacteria can also be drained from the wound by allowing some controlled bleeding for a short period of time.When making your decision on an emergency medical alert system, you will need to decide if you want a system that is paid for up front and monitors monthly for free, or if you want to use a system that charges you monthly for as long as you use the service. One of the more popular choices is a system that is self-contained and you only pay upfront for the equipment. These types of systems will cost roughly $200 or less.The information provided below is meant to educate the patient about the options available to hip replacement candidates. Ultimately your surgeon will make these decisions.Parents who have a newly diagnosed child or a chronically ill child never know when their child will end up in the hospital. Often routine doctor visits or blood draws result in abnormal findings which warrant an unexpected admission to the local hospital or worse yet, a major hospital out of town. These tips will help parents always be prepared for the unexpected if their child is dealing with a long term illness.Medical procedures that require a form of ostomy are seldom comfortable or convenient. The ostomy procedure itself is unpleasant and is usually only performed when it is absolutely necessary and in the best interest of the patient. One of the most common forms of ostomy procedure is the colostomy. This procedure consists of a stoma which is a hole in the abdomen by which waste is drawn from the intestines. buy abilify online buy abilify online buy accupril online buy accupril online buy aceon online buy aceon online buy aldactone online buy aldactone online buy altace online buy altace online buy cafergot online buy cafergot online buy colchicine online buy colchicine online buy cozaar online buy cozaar online buy altace online buy cafergot online buy cozaar online buy aceon online 5-Hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP Oxitriptan buy abana online buy cholestoplex online buy clozaril online buy compazine online buy etodolac online buy flexisyn online buy haldol online buy innopran xl online buy ponstel online buy probalan online buy pyridium online buy zanaprin online buy 5-htp online
After a person has been in a car accident, they are understandably in shock. Car accidents happen quickly, oftentimes before either party had time to react. For those who have been injured in a car accident, most of the trauma often ends up being in the head and neck, although cars with airbags are supposed to protect on impact.Emergency Medical Technicians, also known as EMT s are providers of medical care for emergency situations such as automobile accidents, drownings, heart attacks, gunshot wounds, and childbirth. Usually they are dispatched to the scene of an accident by a 911 operator where they work closely with firefighters and police officers.Decreased level of consciousness or DLOC is one of the most common calls to EMS. DLOC can be caused by many things and for different reasons. What often is called unresponsive is actually DLOC. Victims with a decreased level of consciousness are not entirely unresponsive, but often their level of consciousness is decreased to the point that it appears so to the untrained eye.Life is less predictable than you think. Change is a certainty and unfortunately for some that entails the diagnosis of a chronic or life-threatening illness. Blink and the world can change. What will you do to avoid blinking ?Medical procedures that require a form of ostomy are seldom comfortable or convenient. The ostomy procedure itself is unpleasant and is usually only performed when it is absolutely necessary and in the best interest of the patient. One of the most common forms of ostomy procedure is the colostomy. This procedure consists of a stoma which is a hole in the abdomen by which waste is drawn from the intestines.

Can Baby Boomers Afford Healthcare in the New Year?

2010-03-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

As reported on the Today Show in their segment “Today’s Boomer Nation” the Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons (AARP) offered some staggering statistics related to Baby Boomers (those Americans born between 1946 and 1964) and Healthcare. Of the nearly 78 million Baby Boomers living in the United States the AARP offered these very concerning statistics; with regards to Baby Boomers’ ability to afford their Medical Care in 2009, 21% surveyed stated they were “not very or not at all confident” and 23% stated they were “somewhat confident.” When it came to their ability to afford prescription drugs in 2009, 17% surveyed stated they were “not very or not at all confident” and 22% stated they were “somewhat confident.” When asked about having already had to cut back on taking or filling their prescription medication because they could not afford them, those who were surveyed from age 45-64, 17% of the people surveyed responded yes. This survey has both short-term and long-term implications for those who cannot afford their Health Care and Medication. An area however not explored in this segment was those Baby Boomers who are living with chronic health conditions such as, Diabetes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s, Colitis, Neurological Disorders, and Cancer. This is just a small sampling of chronic health conditions that hundreds of thousands of Americans live with everyday.
For those who have a chronic health condition, many will require daily consumable healthcare products in order to live with these lifelong conditions. Such consumable healthcare products might include diabetic testing supplies, insulin, syringes, ostomy supplies and incontinence products. The cost of such supplies varies significantly, from less than a hundred dollars per month to well into the thousands of dollars per month depending upon the severity or if multiple chronic health conditions exist. Certainly for people having to deal with these existing health conditions, a lack of insurance or financial resources to pay for their needed and necessary healthcare products, can create a great deal of distress in their lives. For those now having to pay out-of-pocket for their healthcare products, many may quickly come to the realization that they cannot afford the product brands that they have come to rely upon and trust over the years. Some manufacturers will offer their consumers either free or reduced cost product for a period of time and during financial hardship. Many support groups or national organizations that support those living with a related chronic health condition may be able to offer similar support. Others may need to seek out more cost effective alternatives that will fulfill their healthcare needs.
Over the years as both a Registered Nurse and my time as a Medical Device Sales Representative, I have met and spoken with many people who were trying to make ends meet financially while at the same time dealing with a chronic health condition and paying out-of-pocket for their necessary healthcare products. This is ultimately what has prompted me to start http://www.cristiamedicalsupply.com/ to be used as a resource for folks who are paying out-of-pocket for their healthcare products and supplies. By focusing on this one healthcare need I am able to keep prices low as I am not constrained by the guidelines of Medicare or other Insurances. By working with our healthcare product manufacturers we are able to offer multiple affordable Healthcare product solutions as well as setting up product sampling for consumer trial before having to buy a product that might not be ideal for our customers’ need. For those who find themselves paying for their healthcare products, I would recommend not only shopping prices, but making certain the company you work with can provide reliable service, reliable delivery, and is willing to take the time to work with you in finding the most clinically effective and affordable healthcare products. Also, contact your product manufacturer, many of which will have clinical staff you can consult with. They can help to insure you are using their products effectively and may be able to offer ways for you to optimize the use of their products. Knowledge is power and asking is free, so seek out resources that are willing to work with you.

Ostomy Supplies and Options - Information is a Vital Health Tool

2010-03-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

Pulling out the facts from the large piles and piles of medical records in a pressure ulcer case is no easy task. Finding the document in the medical record that explains of how the pressure ulcer developed can be time consuming, or difficult to find due to messy writing. It can also seem complicated with electronic documentation and this is when the expert eyes of a nurse consultant are required. Learn how this nurse consultant assisted an attorney find the one document in the medical record that explained the story of a pressure ulcer.Usually, it covers everything we need as the injured or critically ill patient plus the family members, like bed-to-bed services, manages ground transportation, specialized medical care during transport, and other necessary things. The staffs who work on the air ambulance service can be categorized as the medical and the flight crew. The flight crew s duty is obvious, to keep the aircraft in flight.Is there someone you know that has had head trauma of any kind whether it be a small bump, concussion, or an almost fatal accident? There are signs of traumatic brain injury that one should look for as a friend, spouse, or caregiver.Concussions in children can be as severe as a blackout, or as mild as a flash of confusion. Running and playing is a natural instinct, and things can get in the way. A head injury may just be a small bump from trauma on the head, and a headache that doesn t want to go away. But sometimes, that headache means it s time to sit down and stay instead of going outside to play.When you or someone close to you suffers from a head injury it can be hard to understand exactly what s going on and some of the more technical medical terms. This article provides some of the more basic information on the brain including how and why the brain can become damaged and the implications this can have. buy abilify online buy abilify online buy accupril online buy accupril online buy aceon online buy aceon online buy aldactone online buy aldactone online buy altace online buy altace online buy cafergot online buy cafergot online buy colchicine online buy colchicine online buy cozaar online buy cozaar online buy altace online buy cafergot online buy cozaar online buy aceon online 5-Hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP Oxitriptan buy abana online buy cholestoplex online buy clozaril online buy compazine online buy etodolac online buy flexisyn online buy haldol online buy innopran xl online buy ponstel online buy probalan online buy pyridium online buy zanaprin online buy 5-htp online
When the compression position is right, it will be indicated by the light, which is located in the central position in the chest, with green flash. And wrong position will be indicated by red flash. The compression times is indicated by the counter, which is located on the left side of the monitor. Some procedures will be guided by audio instruction.When it comes to cerebral injuries, a lot of people mistakenly prognosticate all types of inter cranial (under skull) bleeding as concussions. This is a flawed diagnosis as concussions are only closed head injuries. All kinds of concussions and memory loss are due to injuries inflicted on the head, but the converse is not true.First-degree burns are limited to the epidermal skin layer. These burns are erythematous, blanch with light pressure, and are often minimally to quite painful. Vesicles/blisters do not develop. Tissue damage and edema are minimal and most of the skin s function is still intact. Given enough time, most heal spontaneously. Systemic effects from this type of burn are rare. Scarring is rare, but they do often peel (Merck, 2005; Oxbridge, 2008; Wikipedia, 2008).Brain damage can cause a disruption in the functions of your brain. Symptoms that may be caused by injury to the brain include slowed thinking processes, difficulty switching between tasks, diminished libido, disturbed sleep, emotional outbursts, irritability, depression, faulty judgment, impaired memory, difficulty concentrating, inattention and excessive sleepiness. It is sometimes difficult to sort out actual brain damage from other ailments or issues including job loss, financial loss, depression, medications, pain elsewhere and migraine headaches.Medical procedures that require a form of ostomy are seldom comfortable or convenient. The ostomy procedure itself is unpleasant and is usually only performed when it is absolutely necessary and in the best interest of the patient. One of the most common forms of ostomy procedure is the colostomy. This procedure consists of a stoma which is a hole in the abdomen by which waste is drawn from the intestines.

Falls hospital to open wound care clinic next month

2010-02-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

A new wound care clinic is opening at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls.

The medical center now has two high pressure oxygen chambers designed to help heal wounds that might otherwise be untreatable. Older adults and diabetics often need longer to heal from major surgeries and infected wounds.

"For being a little smaller community, to be able to offer this is really incredible," Clinic Manager Rohanna Brannan said.

The advanced wound care clinic opens March 1st. Those running the operation says the need is high.

Some private providers in the Klamath Basin offer wound care, but this is the first specialized effort that includes two hyperbaric oxygen chambers.

"The idea behind problem wounds, they're not getting enough oxygen. So what we do is force oxygen into the wound and force it to heal," Hyperbaric Therapy Technician Sean Castle said.

The oxygen treatment is often requested before and after oral surgeries for at-risk patients.

"For people who have had oral cancer radiation on their jaw, it has a large tendency to disintegrate the bone and it can be very disfiguring for them. And we can go into the hyperbarics and we can help regrow that and with porosities, stop the disfigurement of them," Brannan said.

The wound clinic also has physical therapists, physicians and wound care nurses to build healing programs that are patient specific.

The oxygen chambers will not be available for use in the first couple months in order for the specialists to become certified.

How to become an Ostomy Nurse

2010-02-26T08:30:00.000-08:00

An ostomy nurse is a specialist who cares for patients who have undergone surgical procedures called ostomies, operations to remove or bypass damaged sections of the urinary or gastrointestinal tract. Such patients are left with open surgical wounds that must be carefully cleaned and monitored by ostomy nurses. Extensive education, training, and experience are required to become an ostomy nurse. In most countries, an individual must earn a bachelor's degree, gain about five years of general nursing experience, and complete a specialized ostomy training program. After finishing training and passing requisite certification tests, a professional can become an ostomy nurse at a hospital, public clinic, nursing home, or surgical center. A trained ostomy nurse will have a very good knowledge of the different types of ostomy supplies and proceduers.

An individual who wants to become an ostomy nurse first needs to complete a four-year bachelor's degree program. A nursing student usually takes a wide variety of courses related to biological science, including anatomy, physiology, health, and medical technology. In addition, an individual typically takes classes in computer science, communications, and mathematics to acquire technical and administrative skills. Most nursing school programs give students the chance to participate in formal internship programs in their last one or two years of study to gain practical experience.

After earning a degree, a person can take a regional or national licensing examination to earn registered nurse credentials and begin applying for entry-level positions at hospitals. Most new registered nurses start their careers in emergency rooms or critical care centers, where their skills are immediately put to the test under urgent circumstances. It is common for a new nurse to work long, variable hours and assume on-call status when not at the hospital. In time, he or she is usually rewarded with additional responsibilities and a less hectic schedule.

The requirements to become an ostomy nurse vary between regions, but most professionals need to gain about five years of registered nurse experience before applying for positions in the specialty. A seasoned nurse can look into university and hospital programs in his or her area designed to train prospective ostomy nurses. A program can last anywhere from a few months to two years, and typically includes both classroom studies and practical training in a clinical setting. In addition to learning about ostomy care, a trainee also receives detailed instruction on how treat patients with serious wounds and incontinence problems.

Join The Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurses Society As It Makes History

2010-02-24T15:56:00.000-08:00

PHOENIX, Feb. 15 Healthcare professionals who specialize in wound, ostomy
and/or continence care will have the opportunity to participate in a groundbreaking conference that combines the expertise of two premier wound, ostomy and continence associations, The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society and The World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET). The 2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference, Universal Focus on Patient Care, scheduled for June 12-16, 2010 in Phoenix, AZ, will highlight the most up-to-date patient care treatments, evidence-based research, and emerging techniques designed to enhance the profession. Educational offerings include sessions on the yet-to-be-released WOCN Ostomy and Pressure Ulcer Guidelines, transcultural nursing, evaluation of fecal incontinence, CMS updates and many other sessions of interest to nurses practicing in the fields of wound, ostomy and continence throughout the world. Registration is now open.

An International Perspective

Whether your professional focus is local, regional, national or international, the principles and techniques specific to WOC nursing specialty are impacted by events and developments that are occurring worldwide. Many of the conference's sessions are particularly timely given recent world events. These sessions include: wound care in Disaster Relief, a panel discussion about the role of wound care nurses in times of earthquakes, war, and natural disasters; Meltdown! Facing Some Realities in Nursing and Health Provisions, an examination of global issues that impact nursing and medical delivery of care; ET Nurses Challenges Around the World, a lecture and discussion surrounding the role of ET nurses in emerging, as well as developed countries; and, Building Bridges: Transcultural Ostomy Nursing, a session dedicated to uniting like-minded WOC-Stoma Care Nurses from many countries and cultures to explore the impact of culture on the ostomy patient.

Make Plans Now

WOC Nurse professionals should begin planning for this very special conference. Participants can look forward to expanding their knowledge base, learning from internationally-renowned speakers, and sharing their experiences with a broad network of colleagues from around the world. Conference participants will return to their practices with knowledge that will ultimately improve the lives of their patients. For more information about the conference, visit http://wocn.jointconference2010.org .

About the WOCN Society

Founded in 1968, the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society is a professional, international nursing society of more than 4,600 healthcare professionals who are experts in the care of patients with wounds, ostomies and incontinence. The Society supports its members by promoting educational, clinical and research opportunities to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with wound s, ostomies and incontinence. Learn more by visiting www.wocn.org.

About the WCET

The WCET was formally founded on May 18th 1978 when 30 Enterostomal Therapists representing 15 countries, and 20 appliance manufacturers
attended the first two-day congress held in Milan, Italy. Their mission is to lead the global advancement of specialized professional nursing care for people with ostomy, wound or continence needs. Learn more by visiting www.wcetn.org.

Insurance Mandates May Hurt Businesses

2010-02-23T06:21:00.000-08:00

State lawmakers want health plans to offer expanded coverage for more than six new medical conditions, stirring concerns that small- and median-sized businesses will take a financial hit that they can’t afford. Rep. Steve Fontana (D), co-chair of the insurance and real estate committee

While supporters say most of the new coverage would add pennies a month to the cost, just one change — tinkering with wellness programs — could add up to 3 percent to premiums, insurance experts estimate.

A health insurance “mandate” is something for which an insurance company or health plan must offer coverage.

The mandates bill is similar to the one proposed last year, which passed the House and Senate with overwhelming support, but was vetoed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who cited concerns about its cost to “taxpayers, policyholders and employers in the future.”

This year’s proposal would require employers to offer coverage for ostomy supplies, prosthetic devices, hearing aids for children, wigs for patients who suffer hair loss due to certain medical conditions, and bone marrow testing.

It would also prohibit copayments or out-of pocket expenses for patients ordered to have a second colonoscopy in a year, and require insurers to offer a wellness program with financial incentives. Employers would have the option of offering the program to workers.

Additionally, in a separate bill, lawmakers are proposing to prohibit insurers from requiring patients to make copayments or other out-of-pocket expenses for preventive care.

Eric George, a lobbyist with the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, said the new mandates will cause employers to pay more for health coverage, precisely at a time when they can least afford it.

Many Connecticut businesses are facing double-digit rates increases this year. For example, Health Net of Connecticut received regulatory approval for an average rate increase of 19 percent for its policies sold to employers.

“These mandates are absolutely killing our small companies,” George said. “Each and every time lawmakers pass a feel good mandate they are making it harder for businesses to survive.”

According to a report by the Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI), Connecticut had 54 mandates at the end of 2009, more than neighbors like Massachusetts and New York and ninth highest in the country.

While mandates make health insurance more comprehensive, they also make it more expensive, requiring insurers to pay for care consumers previously funded out of their own pockets. Those expenses often get passed onto employers through higher premiums.

CAHI estimates that mandated benefits as a whole increase the cost of basic health coverage between 20 percent and 50 percent.

Merrill Matthews, CAHI’s executive director, said new mandates raise costs because they cause utilization to go up. “Those costs are then passed on to consumers in the form of higher health insurance premiums,” Matthews said.

George said companies most affected by health mandates are small- to medium-size employers because they are typically fully insured, which makes them subject to state regulation.

Larger companies that are self-insured or are regulated under federal ERISA laws do not have to comply with state mandates.

“Regardless of what their intention is, they are making it less affordable and they are going to have more people uninsured,” George said. “Small employers are going to get to the point where they are going to have to drop coverage.”

Rep. Steve Fontana, co-chair of the insurance and real estate committee, where the bill has been raised, is a supporter of the measure and says concerns about its cost are overblown.

Fontana, a Democrat from North Haven, points to a study recently released by the Connecticut Insurance Department and University of Connecticut Center of Public Health and Health Policy, which concluded that the six mandates proposed last year — including coverage for ostomy supplies, prosthetic devices, and hearing aids for children — would have cost 72 cents a month for every policy holder.

“I think the report reassures people that the costs aren’t exorbitant and that the benefits of the mandates outweigh the costs,” said Fontana, who added that he will be looking to get Rell’s support for the bill this year.

Last year, Rell said the state couldn’t afford the bill, and that it would be “fiscally irresponsible to burden our recovery with these significant future costs.”

Rich Harris, a spokesman for Rell, said if this year’s bill is similar to last years, than, “it’s likely to run into some concerns.”

The study, which was done in response to a bill lawmakers passed last year that requires a cost analysis of any new health benefit mandate, also said that the wellness programs could cost as much as 3 percent of health plan’s premium.

The report added that the expected payback in reduced medical costs would not occur in year one, but would grow over several years.

Keith Stover, a lobbyist for the Connecticut Association of Health Plans, said while the cost of those mandates may not be staggering, when taken as a whole they are burdensome.

“You can’t look at the mandates in a vacuum,” Stover said. “The fact is that additional mandates have a cost impact that is cumulative in nature. They do have an impact on increasing premiums.”

One of the most controversial mandates that did pass last year was one that broadens coverage for autism disorders by requiring a policy to cover the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, including behavioral therapy as well as certain prescription drugs and psychiatric and psychological services.

Rell supported that measure and signed it into law, but the Insurance Department’s study did not do a cost assessment on it.

George said he estimates the mandate could cost employers as much as $5 per member per month. “These are real dollars that cause real problems for businesses,” George said.

Defense expert testifies as nursing home negligence trial enters fifth day

2010-02-23T06:15:00.001-08:00

A trial over the care provided by an Edwardsville nursing home seven years ago continued into its second week as the defense continued its case with expert witness testimony.

The start of Monday's testimony was delayed as the defense once again attempted to convince presiding judge, Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis, to change her ruling excluding the mention of a previous toe ulcer from the case.

The plaintiff, Martha Flanary, is suing as administrator of her husband, Gerald's estate, alleging that Rosewood Care Center of Edwardsville breached the standard of care when he developed a blister and ulcer on his left heel in December 2007.

The defense has contended that Rosewood is not at fault for the injury due to Gerald Flanary's underlying medical conditions.

Defense attorney Dennis McCubbin asked last week that Callis overturn her order barring him from introducing evidence of a prior ulcer Gerald Flanary developed outside of Rosewood's care.

At the time, Callis refused to change her ruling.

Callis also denied motions by McCubbin to dismiss and direct the verdict Monday morning.

Defense expert, Dr. Gregory Comptom of South Carolina, testified about Gerald Flanary's underlying conditions and the significance of the prior ulcer outside of the jury's hearing Monday morning.

After he concluded his testimony, Callis again refused to allow introduction of the incident.

The trial restarted at about 10 a.m.

Compton again took the stand as McCubbin questioned him, as a wound care specialist, about how and why pressure sores like the one on Gerald Flanary's left heel form.

Compton testified that Gerald Flanary's diabetes and peripheral vascular disease were the likely cause of the wound and why it did not heal.

He did not fault the nursing home.

"If this gentleman is being neglected at the nursing home," Compton said, "he surely would have broken down in other places."

Compton did fault Dr. Michael Beatty, the Edwardsville plastic surgeon who popped Gerald Flanary's blister and removed dead tissue from the wound. He called the blister cap "Mother Nature's
dressing," arguing it actually protected the wound. Beatty "un-roofed," the wound on Dec. 19, 2003, Compton said.

It deteriorated and Gerald Flanary was transferred several days later to Gateway Regional Medical Center.

"The thing that bothers me about this case is there's no logic," Compton said. "If it ain't broke, don't un-roof it."

Compton contended that there was no reason to pop the blister and that doing so could have increased the risk of infection and the wound's worsening.

During cross examination, plaintiff's attorney Robert Gregory asked Compton if he had reviewed the investigation report by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The IDPH investigated the Flanary case and determined that Rosewood had violated its own policies.

It did not rule that the nursing home was guilty of neglect.

Compton said he had not reviewed that report.

Gregory also questioned Compton about mistakes written in the notes about Flanary's wound and its position as well as whether it was normal for a number of doctors to monitor a patient's condition.

Compton agreed mistakes had been noted and that several doctors might oversee a nursing home patient's case.

More defense witnesses took the stand Monday afternoon.

Shortly after 3 p.m., as the trial took a brief break, it came to the attention of the attorneys that one juror was related to defense witness Holly Hernandez.

McCubbin asked that the juror be discharged. Gregory offered no objection.

That juror was replaced by an alternate.

The trial will continue Tuesday. Callis told jurors that the trial would go until at least Wednesday.

The trial began last Tuesday. Callis took over the trial from Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder due to a scheduling
issue. Crowder was set to preside over another trial beginning the same day.

Over $1.5 million medical supplies into Haiti brought in by Global Village Champions

2010-02-22T09:08:00.000-08:00

Global Village brought Haiti medical supplies in truckloads filled with suitcases and boxes. Approximately 60 emergency surgery suitcases were packed with pain medications
, antibiotics, anesthetics, sutures and gauze. Each suitcase was fully packed with all the medical supplies necessary to perform an emergency surgery.

The supplies brought to Haiti also included enough equipment for three thousand major and minor surgeries, fungus infection, mite and lice treatments, pain medications and antibiotics, and rehydration treatments. Global Village provided enough rehydration salts for 2,000 treatments.

Global Village brought Haiti medical supplies to treat the children as well. They provided children’s asthma treatments and inhalers, wipes and diapers. Large bags of soy protein supplements, each bag containing enough for four people, were brought along with individual sterile baby bottles.

In addition to bringing Haiti medical supplies, Global Village has provided Haitians with six million meals and 2,600 liters of bottled water.

Global Village Market has supplied Haiti with much needed food, fresh water and medical supplies. The $1.5 million in medical supplies brought to Haiti were all in the form of real supplies. Global Village does not provide financial support, they provide only necessary items. “We are not a charity, every single dime goes to the end user,” according to Yank Barry, founder of Global Village Champions and Villagers.

Global Village works in close connection with the Bahamas Red Cross, Rotary International, Salvation Army and the Haiti Red Cross to provide Haiti with much needed medical supplies and support for their earthquake relief efforts. Global Village Champions has been providing meals, medical supplies, school supplies, power generators and basic shelter to those in need worldwide for over 17 years.

For more information please visit www.gogvm.com

About Global Villagers

Global Villagers deliver real aid – meals – and have proven our ability to take food wherever it is needed. We do not deliver financial aid. We deliver life-sustaining nutrition

Shreveporters Leave For Haiti

2010-02-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

Three wound care specialists and co-workers at LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport are going to a Port-Au-Prince, Haiti hospital to treat earthquake survivors. They left from Shreveport Regional Airport Sunday afternoon for the seven day trip.

"There was a lot of personal desire for me to go as a medical mission just something I can offer to help others" says Stanley McCallon, D.PT., Director of the Post-Graduate Wound Management Residency in Physical Therapy at LSUHSU-S.

"We're preparing for very traumatic crush injuries to extremities, open wounds, a lot of situations where we'll have soft tissue injuries we'll have to treat" says McCallon.

Dr. Joseph McCulloch and Ed Mahoney, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy are going too.

"I think our training here has prepared us more than many people in the country. That we see very complex wounds here on a daily basis" says Dr. McCulloch.

They will work twelve hours shifts from 7 am - 7 pm.

"It will just be moving from patient to patient, the reports we got is that you are pretty much working right up to the very end as the sun sets and you go eat your dinner and go to bed and get up and do it all over again" says Dr. McCulloch.

It is hard work with a big personal payoff.

"I certainly hope that we come away from there with a sense that our presence there made a difference" says Dr. McCulloch.

"I think it's really going to be personally enlightening and spiritually satisfying" says McCallon.

Although they are just leaving the U.S. they are already thinking about their next trip. They say people who had amputations and will need rehab.

Who Will Pay?

2010-02-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

The debate about health care generally focuses on the high cost of medical care and who will pay for it, not whether medically necessary health care should be provided to those who need it.

But here in Connecticut, we’ve gone a step beyond by becoming one of the nation’s leaders in state-mandated coverages. It’s a dubious concept that suggests sound coverage decisions can be legislated.

All in all, the state has 54 mandates in place and is considering adding more this session.

There certainly are good arguments to be made for many of the coverages on the table. When your child is diagnosed with autism, for example, coverage does not seem a gray area. It is a necessity.

But legislators need to be in tune with the times. They need to exercise caution in adding mandates that somebody — either business or the consumer — must pay for in these trying economic times.

The debate, unfortunately, pits some lawmakers against business groups on coverage for ostomy supplies, prosthetic devices, hearing aids for children, wigs for patients who suffer hair loss due to certain medical conditions, and bone marrow testing. The bill is similar to the one the General Assembly approved in the last session but was vetoed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

This time around, efforts to legislate preventative care co-pays and wellness incentives have been added. Some things are better left to the marketplace.

The Connecticut Business & Industry Association maintains that the proposed mandates will hurt small- and mid-sized businesses the most because they are least able to financially absorb the increased costs the mandates will create.

Health care advocates argue that the increased costs will be minimal.

The Council for Affordable Health Insurance, an advocacy group, argues that these mandates have increased health care coverage between 20 percent and 50 percent.

There is a basic assumption that if an individual pays for health care insurance, medically necessary procedures, products and prescriptions would be covered, such as ostomy supplies.

That often has not been the case.

Lawmakers aren’t proposing Botox for everyone. But they should limit themselves to assuring insurers cover all medically necessary claims.

Business groups and lawmakers need to get on the same side of the debate so they can develop a workable strategy that provides appropriate coverage for those who need it.

Volunteer doctors return from Haiti and vow to do more

2010-02-21T19:59:00.000-08:00

VOLUNTEER Doctors-Cyprus who recently underwent a ten-day stint treating the injured in Haiti did the best they could, one of the six-member team said yesterday.

Olga Sophocoleous said the team “contributed to the best of its abilities”, adding that the “aim was to continue providing assistance”.

The team went to Haiti on February 4, taking medical supplies with them.

“What we saw was the complete destruction of the place. The earthquake had flattened everything. The homeless are more than 1.5 million, the dead over 200,000 and orphaned children in the thousands, and increasing all the time,” said Sophocleous.

“The people seek help and food. The situation is chaotic. All the government buildings have been destroyed and this makes the job of government services more difficult,” she added.

On arrival in Port-au-Prince, the team camped in the Sonapi industrial park, where they met up with the Greek mission of the Doctors of the World. There was a camp site and medical centre set up where 150 to 200 patients were examined a day, and a small hospital made up of 15 tents with a 45-bed capacity.

The team also collaborated with a Chinese team of dentists who set up a mobile dental clinic and helped to distribute food. Volunteer Doctors-Cyprus hope to provide longer term assistance to an orphanage, medical centre and dental clinic damaged by the quake.

Sophocleous thanked the Foreign Ministry and members of the public for help with funding and pharmaceutical company Medochemie for providing free medical supplies.

Hope in Haiti

2010-02-21T19:57:00.000-08:00

Norman — Everything about the trip was impromptu, starting with the bus drive from the Dominican Republic into Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Although nicer than the medical team from Norman Regional Hospital expected, the charter bus had obviously been damaged. The windshield was glued together and scrap pieces of metal had patched bruised places on the vehicle.

“It looked just like something out of ‘Road Warrior,’” said Dr. Jeffrey Nees, a neurosurgeon at Norman Regional Hospital.

The team, including Nees, six nurses, a paramedic and an associate pastor from Journey Church — who organized the trip — spent Feb. 6-14 on a medical mission near the earthquake-ravaged capital of Haiti. After arriving in the country, the team unloaded from the charter bus into a field that served as a bus stop.

A school bus took the team to Mission of Hope Haiti’s compound, 76 acres owned by the missional/charitable organization, stationed about 30 minutes northwest of Port-au-Prince.

This is where the team went to work, seeing about 200-250 patients a day at a makeshift ward in the charity’s former school building.

Nees said that although many patients were still coming in with injuries directly received in the Jan. 12 earthquake, many needed treatment for conditions related to their injuries, such as infected wounds. Mostly, though, there were just sick people, Nees said.

In keeping with the impromptu conditions, the medical team worked out of one operating room, full of stands duct-taped together to provide steady surfaces. The room had been transformed into the operating room after the earthquake; it used to be the laboratory for the compound’s small clinic, which was set up for out-patient care only.

And although the operating room was usable, it lacked basic amenities like anesthesia and oxygen machines.

“We had to do everything under spinal block or local anesthesia,” said Nees.

The team worked with supplies donated from other physicians and nurses who had previously come to care for injured in Haiti. This team, like the rest, came loaded with medical supplies and medicine for Haitians. One nurse, Bonnie Rainbow, even joked that she had left her much beloved Diet Coke at home to make more room for supplies.

“That was my sacrifice,” she said.

Even with all the donations, Barbretta Chambers said that when getting pills together for patients, there was a lot of making do with that they had available.

“They just adapted many things,” Chambers said.

The medical team said they worked long hours in 90 degree heat, with no air conditioners. They would sit down for breakfast and briefings at about 7 a.m. and work until the last patient for the day was sent home.

At the end of the days, the team found themselves looking forward to something they never thought they would want — cold showers.

“The first day that cold shower was like, ‘Oh, man,’ but after that it was like heaven,” Rainbow said.

The team had to keep their showers short, only running water when first getting in and when rinsing, as clean water is a rarity in Haiti and was rationed on the compound.

There were restrictions when it came to toilets, too.

Nees said the saying of the mission was, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.”

The team wasn’t bothered by the slight complications on the compound, though. Overall, they reported that they were well-cared for the by staff at Mission of Hope. It was the tales of the Haitian people’s plights that most bothered the team.

Nees told the story of two little boys who visited the clinic the day before the team returned to the states. Both were terribly sick because they had resorted to eating rocks just to stop the ravaging hunger they were experiencing.

But these were the types of stories that the team expected. They expected to be heart-broken. They expected to see things they thought they would have trouble taking home with them.

What surprised them was the strong will of the Haitian people.

“These people were not broken down; they were not depressed,” Rainbow said.

The team saw the spirit they were describing during the first drive through the country.

Despite the rubble around them, Haitian people were out, setting up booths with food and other daily necessities, visiting with neighbors. Resourcefully, they had set up little villages made from sheets, cardboard, just whatever would work for housing.

“I felt like a lot of it was business as usual,” Rainbow said.

Even more so, Rainbow said they were a caring people with a real sense of community. Families at the medical ward tenderly assisted their loved ones who were getting treatment. They even assisted strangers with nobody there to care for them.

“It was just beautiful to see,” Rainbow said.

Their spirits were so high that while waiting to be treated at the compound, the 250 or so patients, with their families bringing the crowd to about 500, would sing in unison. Nees said the director of Mission of Hope Haiti told him that in her more than two years of serving in the country, she had never met a Haitian who couldn’t sing.

Rainbow, Nees and Chambers all concluded that it seemed that Haiti was on its way out of relief and into reconstruction. In fact, when Journey Church sends another group to Haiti in May, they will be taking those well-practiced in construction and agriculture to begin rebuilding the poverty-stricken nation.

All three seemed excited at the possibility of what Haiti could become, pointing out key areas, such as water treatment and agricultural advancement, that could send the country on its way.

After talking about the journey, Nees hesitantly made a plea for donations to Mission of Hope Haiti. He said he can personally vouch that nobody there is getting “high off the hog” from donations. He further said that the missional charity employs Haitians for many of the jobs at their grounds. They are also looking at expanding the medical facilities on the site.

And although they were touched by tales of tragedy, it seemed that what Nees, Chambers and Rainbow took away was an appreciation and a respect for the people of Haiti.

“There was such a sense of hope,” said Rainbow.

Groups collecting medical supplies, equipment for Haiti relief

2010-02-18T07:42:00.000-08:00

Christ Community Church of Ottawa and PDQ of Peru are leading an effort in North and Central Illinois to collect medical equipment and medical supplies that will be shipped to Haiti.

Specific items requested include an X-ray machine, a dialysis machine, hospital beds, examination tables, suture kits, blood pressure cuffs, as well as bandages and Band-Aids. Monetary gifts also are being sought to transport the items from West Palm Beach, Fla., to Haiti.

Donations from North and Central Illinois area can be picked up free of charge by PDQ of Peru by calling 815-223-2949, 815-488-6611 or 800-490-7441. Deanna Carlson or Ray Bertalot will assist donors with scheduling. Pickup for immediate shipment needs to be scheduled by Thursday, Feb. 25.

PDQ of Peru will deliver the donated items to Morely, Mo., where they will be added to other donated items and packaged for transport for Christ To The World. Christ To The World is a nonprofit ministry with relationships with Haitian pastors who oversee a large school and medical clinic.

For more information, contact Christ To The World President Rick McNeely at 573-262-2326. For local information, contact Alice at Christ Community Church medical ministries at 815-993-3089.

Scientists Get Patent for "Noisy" Algorithms That Could Improve Mammography

2010-02-17T17:01:00.001-08:00

Scientists at Syracuse University recently received a patent for a series of algorithms that they say can cut down the number of false positives in digital mammography by more than a third. And they do it, paradoxically, by adding "noise."

In general, scientists hate "noise," messy interference that obscures the signal, or whatever target they're looking for. But new research shows that some noise actually makes signals clearer, and the finding could have a big impact on detecting breast cancer.

Stochastic resonance

The patented algorithms developed by the researchers depend on something called stochastic resonance. This phenomenon was first used to account for why small changes in the earth's orbit every 100,000 years can trigger massive changes in climate -- the ice ages.

Essentially, scientists reasoned that some signals too faint to reach a threshold for detection could actually pole-vault over if boosted by "noise." This is called random, or stochastic, interference. In the case of the ice ages, the "signal" is orbital variation of the earth, which by itself is too weak to cross the "threshold" of worldwide freezing. But coupled with "noise," the fluctuating bombardment of solar energy randomly heating the planet, and the signal has the capacity to cross the threshold and set off an avalanche of events that can lead to global winters, or so the theory goes.

"Basically, in our daily experience, if a signal is more noisy, it will be degraded," says Hao Chen, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the electrical engineering and computer science department of the university, and one of the holders of the patents. "A noisy image looks much worse," he says.

"But for some other systems, under certain conditions, and there are lot of restrictions; but for some systems, if you make the input signal more noisy, then the output performance would be better. That's quite counterintuitive. Usually, we do a lot of de-noising before you process the data. But in this case, we do the opposite, we add noise to signal and make it more noisy, and somehow it improves the system performance," he says.

That is the case with certain nonlinear systems, like the earth's climate, but it also appears to be true with mammography.

Eliminating false positives

Thanks to several grants from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Chen and his colleagues Pramod Varshney and James Michels, also professors at Syracuse, did the research that led to the 2006 filing of the patent. But it wasn't until 2009 that, with doctoral student Renbin Peng, they published in the Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing how their system can help find breast cancer.

What Peng and the team did was to look at digital mammograms of breasts with tiny calcifications measuring some 0.3 millimeters in size. They then ran a series of publicly available algorithms known to detect and mark breast cancer on digital mammograms. When they matched these markings against ones made by their "noise" adding algorithms, they found the stochastic resonance-based program was much less likely to mistake benign growths for deadly tumors.

With their detectors, there was a 36 percent reduction in false positives, even though the sensitivity -- the ability to detect real cancers -- was the same or better than for other systems.

"It's just a prototype," says Chen, "but we demonstrated some potential. We believe it can be applied to a broad spectrum of applications, such as cochlear implants or systems to improve touch."

As for offers from OEMs, Chen says he's open, and some inquiries have already been made through an office at the university.

"We were hoping that someday we can collaborate with some companies to actually make a product that will be beneficial for society," he adds.

More info: Medical Supplies

Lansing church medical group assists clinic in Haiti

2010-02-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

LANSING -- On Saturday afternoon, members of the Lansing United Methodist Church wedged more than 200 pounds of painkillers, antibiotic cream, gloves, gauze, syringes and prescription medications into several massive suit cases in their church.

The mounds of medical supplies were donated by businesses, organizations and citizens in Tompkins County.

On Monday morning, those supplies -- and the Lansing medical team that's carrying them -- will be assisting the wounded refugees in the earthquake-stricken Haiti.

They'll be brought to an existing hospital clinic in St. Marc, a city which is inundated by refugees streaming north from the largely collapsed capital of Port-au-Prince, where the earthquake hit hardest.

"The focus is on Port-au-Prince, but we want to make sure everywhere else is all right," said Renie Sanstead, the unofficial trip leader and a 12-year veteran of agricultural and educational aid efforts in Haiti.

Sanstead's church, which has been lending help to Haitians since the 1960s, was already planning to send members down on a regular aid mission before the earthquake hit. When it became apparent how devastated the country was, they revised their plan of action, enlisting three nurses and two translators and joining up with a beleaguered clinic.

"It's very hard down in Haiti, even before the earthquake," Sanstead said, noting that not everyone should try to fly down and help. "We're seasoned Haiti-goers."

The six who will be going are Sanstead and her daughter Sarah, who speaks Creole and French; Sarah Thomson, a Lansing nurse, and her son Justin Thomson, a paramedic; Deb Lavigne, a Lansing nurse practitioner; and Ashley Dean, a Lansing-born resident of Washington D.C. who speaks French and has gone on aid missions before.

The group will be bringing most of their own food to avoid burdening already taxed aid workers trying to feed hundreds of thousands of homeless and hungry citizens.

Although they had to leave most of the donated medical supplies behind, Sanstead said she sees the leftovers as an opportunity, not a waste.

"There was an outpouring of medical supplies," she said. "There's still a roomful of stuff. I'm hoping more teams from our area will go down and bring more."

Groups that donated include the Meadowridge Veterinary Clinic, Cayuga medical Center, Surgical Associates, McKesson Medical Supplies, Family Medicine Associates, Ithaca Orthopaedic Group, Lansing Funeral Home, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, United States Equestrian Federation Drug Testing Lab, Cayuga Facial Surgery, and a large number of individuals and families.

HAITI RELIEF NEWS: Resources for volunteer opportunities in Haiti

2010-02-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

The fact is, hands-on opportunities exist in Haiti right now — and the need for volunteers is expected to grow in the weeks and months to come.As devastating images continue to emerge from the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, many Americans are wondering what they can do to help. While most relief agencies say donating money is the best way to contribute to the cause, we know that many Tonic readers have their hearts set on doing something more.

At Tonic, part of our mission is to make it easier for you to get involved. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of organizations that need volunteers in Haiti. If you have skills that you believe could be useful in rebuilding Port-au-Prince and the hopes and dreams of the Haitian people, these organizations want to hear from you.
Log on to the appropriate website. Make that phone call. Take that extra step, and get involved.

1. Medical workers are sought by The International Medical Corps, a global nonprofit dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and treatment. IMC is taking applications for volunteer doctors and nurses, with a particular need for nurses. Go to their website at www.imcworldwide.org and click on the “How You Can Help” tab.

2. The Washington, D.C.-based Visions in Action (www.visionsinaction.org), an international nonprofit committed to achieving social and economic justice in the developing world through grassroots programs, seeks an earthquake relief volunteer immediately for a two to four-week trip to Haiti to assess needs and determine how VIA can best respond to the crisis. Please send a cover letter, CV, and the contact information for three references to: haiti@visionsinaction.org for immediate consideration.

3. The Global Volunteer Network is now working to implement a long-term, sustainable volunteer project in Haiti. Once their team of specialists determines needs, GVN will send in volunteers over the next 12 months, with a likely start date of March onwards. Volunteers are needed from one week to six months to help with working with children; teaching; health/medical; building and construction; counseling; or business development. You can find more information at www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/haiti/

4. Massachusetts-based Ministries of Aides International, a humanitarian organization focusing on needy children worldwide, urgently needs volunteers to help distribute supplies and assist nurses and physicians in their work to help the victims of the earthquake. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Wladimir D. Lahens at 617 -250-8516, email volunteers@ministriesofaidesinternational.org or visit their website at www.ministriesofaidesinternational.org.

5. Over 7,000 registered nurses have already answered the call from their union, the National Nurses United, to volunteer in Haiti. If you are a nurse, you can call 1-800-578-8225, visit www.nationalnursesunited.org or fill out a volunteer form at www.calnurses.org/rnrn/rnrn-volunteer-form.html

6. Boston-based Partners in Health (www.pih.org) urgently needs orthopedic surgeons, trauma surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, nurses, post-op nurses, and surgical technicians. They are unable to accommodate any volunteers without significant surgical or trauma training and experience. Applicants can fill out a form here.

7. While the Red Cross isn’t accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti now, there will be a need down the road for more medical personnel, translators and others who need to receive appropriate disaster training now. The Red Cross (www.redcross.org) asks potential volunteers to contact their local Red Cross chapter for this training.

8. Both medical and non-medical workers can register to volunteer their services with the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI), based in Washington, D.C. Relief agencies browse through the listings to find volunteers who match their needs. The CIDI, funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, promotes activities and donations to help disaster victims around the world. You can visit the CIDI’s registration page at www.cidi.org/reg_off.htm or call 703-276-1914.

9. The Anir Experience, based in Lewisburg, West Virginia, is assembling three teams of volunteers to travel to Haiti July 3-17, 2010. Teams will be 15 members each for either construction, first-aid/health care or child care. For more information go to www.anirfoundation.org/Haitipage2.html or contact them at Programs@anirexperience.org.

10. Habitat for Humanity International is currently assessing response options in Haiti. Once the organization knows the full magnitude of the disaster, Habitat will require support from volunteers. Contact www.habitat.org to register to volunteer or for updated information on its needs.

11. The American Refugee Committee International, an international humanitarian aid agency that works with 2.5 million people annually, has information for prospective volunteers in Haiti here.

12. The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (www.CRCNA.org), which has been working with churches and community organizations in Haiti for more than 30 years, is not clear on whether or not additional volunteers will be needed for CRWRC’s response. Those who are interested in volunteering should call Carol Sybenga at 1-800-730-3490 or e-mail volunteer@crcna.org.

13. World Hope International (www.worldhope.org), a faith-based relief and development organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, will mobilize volunteers to assist their Haitian staff and communities in clean-up and rebuilding once the work of its first responders ebbs. Visit their website for more information.

14. For more information on volunteer positions as they arise, regularly check Idealist.org. Also, check out InterAction, a coalition of NGO’s with a regularly updated list of its member organizations involved with Haiti at www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti.

Haiti is in dire need of all types of medical supplies, but especially wound care supplies. Any donations or contributions is greatly appreciated !

Haiti Relief UPDATE: More Medical Equipment Needed

2010-02-12T12:36:00.000-08:00

Haiti is in great need of various medical supplies !

While the world has generously responded to calls for monetary donations for Haiti relief in the aftermath of last week's earthquake, essential medical resources are in short supply.

One charity capable of getting resources on the ground in Haiti fast is Afya Foundation.

"Physicians and clinicians in hospitals in Haiti are in need of everything imaginable," said Danielle N. Butin, executive director of Afya. The foundation, headquartered in Yonkers, NY, works with Partners In Health and has already delivered significant amounts of medical supplies to Haiti.

Afya said that equipment donated will be shipped to Haiti within a week of receipt and will be distributed by Partners In Health, a Haiti relief organization whose staff manages the challenging ground effort.

"We also need funding support to gather, warehouse and ship these supplies abroad--financial support allows us to ship as much as possible out of New York to Haiti," Butin told DOTmed News.

Below is a partial and general list of what is needed but PLEASE CONTACT THE AFYA FOUNDATION TO LEARN SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS NEEDED. Contact Sarah Schuyler via email: sarah.schuyler@afyafoundation.org.

Salvation Army taking text donations for Haiti

2010-01-13T14:14:00.000-08:00

Canadians looking to donate money to earthquake disaster relief in Haiti through text messages can do so via the Salvation Army.

Cellphone users can send donations of $5 by texting the word "Haiti" to 45678 through a system set up by the Mobile Giving Foundation, a group that enables charities to collect money by text messages.

The Salvation Army is a member of the group, as are several other charities including the Children's Wish Foundation and Princess Margaret Hospital.

According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, the cellphone industry's trade group, 100 per cent of all donations that go through Mobile Giving are forwarded to their respective charities.

Cellphone users are charged the amount of their donation on their next cellphone bill. There are no additional or ancillary charges, CWTA spokesman Marc Choma said, but standard text messaging rates apply.

Some other text-donation options circulating online, however, are not available to Canadians. One option, where texting the word "Haiti" to 90999 results in a $10 donation to the Red Cross and a matching fee being applied to the user's cellphone bill, only works in the United States, Twitter users reported.

The Canadian Red Cross confirmed that it could not take text donations but added that people could donate online or by phone call, although its website is experiencing technical problems.

"We would love to launch the [text] campaign and it may be something that we roll out in the next couple of days but right now we don’t have one," said spokesperson Katie Kallio.

Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean, through his Twitter account, also urged people to donate to his charity Yele.org through text messages. A spokesperson for Sony Music Entertainment Canada confirmed that the text option is not open to Canadians, but they can still donate through the Yele website.

A spokesperson for Rogers said the company would also have a text donation system up by the end of the day while a Telus representative said he was checking on it. Bell did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

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Nurse fired over refusal to get flu shot, wear mask

2010-01-11T07:06:00.000-08:00

Some Central Texas hospitals required employees to get flu vaccinations this year or wear masks while working with patients as the H1N1 swine flu virus spread and seasonal flu loomed. One nurse at the Seton Family of Hospitals was fired for refusing to do either.

Laurie Haw of Cedar Park, who worked at Seton Medical Center, said she has a strong immune system and would go home if sick.

"I don't feel like putting all of that in my body," she said of the vaccine.

Haw said she also did not wish to work all day in the surgical recovery area in a mask.

"They're coming out of anesthesia, and sometimes when people awake, the last thing they need to see is someone wearing a mask," she said.

Haw, the mother of a 17-year-old girl, was initially suspended and given another chance to comply. The 49-year-old was fired last month for refusing.

Seton spokeswoman Matilda Sanchez said Seton's goal is to keep employees and patients healthy. She did not have data on how many others opted out of the vaccine, mask or both. Haw and Sanchez said they didn't know of anyone else fired.

H1N1 sent thousands of Texans to hospitals for treatment. Studies show that health care workers face a higher risk of flu and are easy transmitters of illnesses because of their close contact with patients. Health care workers were on state and federal priority lists for the H1N1 vaccine, but now that vaccine supplies are more plentiful, most venues are offering them to everyone.

This year, Sanchez said Seton required employees in patient care areas at its 10 hospitals, including its psychiatric facility, Seton Shoal Creek, to get the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines or to wear a mask until flu season ends (usually in May). Doctors under a special contract with Seton hospitals were required to be vaccinated, and those with privileges in Seton hospitals were strongly encouraged to be immunized, Sanchez said.

Oct. 1 was the deadline for Seton workers to get the seasonal flu vaccine; Jan. 15 is the deadline for the H1N1 vaccine, she said.

Haw said she has never gotten a flu shot and thinks "building it up by exposure is a better way to hone your immune system."

St. David's HealthCare, which has five acute care hospitals in Travis and Williamson counties, required employees to get vaccinated against seasonal flu only or wear a mask by Nov. 15, said Dr. Steve Berkowitz, chief medical officer for St. David's. A handful of hospital staff members chose masks; none was terminated, he said.

St. David's did not to require the H1N1 vaccine because it became available so late, minimizing its effectiveness, Berkowitz said. He added that the risk of transmitting seasonal flu was higher for people in age groups who are most likely to be in a hospital, including older people.

Scott & White did not mandate flu vaccinations, according to spokeswoman Katherine Voss.

Swine flu is still circulating nationally, but it's fading, and seasonal flu appears relatively mild in Texas. Based on the latest report from the Texas Department of State Health Services, flu activity is "local," meaning that increases in cases are occurring in a single region of the state.

In a Twitter post Dec. 18, Seton reported: "Virtually zero swine flu in Austin currently."

That could change, and public health authorities are urging people to get immunized in case the H1N1 virus makes a comeback. For medical supplies including H1N1 supplies, please visit Cristia Medical Supply. They are a well known and trusted source for thousands of medical supplies

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Stem Cells Bring Light to Burned Eyes

2009-12-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

Stem cells are making headlines again with the recent $111 million purchase of an experimental inflammatory bowel disease treatment by Pfizer. And now, a study comes out of the UK showing how researchers used stem cells to restore sight to patients with damaged corneas.

In work published last week in Stem Cell, doctors at the North East England Stem Cell Institute in Newcastle upon Tyne, England dramatically improved sight in five out of eight patients who had partial vision loss in one eye because of chemical or physical burn damage.

The researchers helped the singed corneas heal by transplanting stem cells to make up for limbal stem cell deficiency. This condition happens when through injury, such as burn damage, the cornea lacks the stem cells needed to repair itself.

Grown on membranes

The method of growing the cells was ingenious. First, tiny strips of stem cells one millimeter by one millimeter in size were harvested from one of the patient's healthy eyes, and then grown in a lab on plots of stem-cell-rich amniotic membrane. The membrane, from the sac lining of newly delivered babies, had been donated by mothers to the the lab. Historically, the lining has been used to treat the surface of eyes damaged by burns to slow down injury.

Once on the membrane, the strip of cells grew exponentially.

"It expands 400 times, and then what happens, that expanded tissue is transplanted to the eye that has the disease," Dr. Sajjad Ahmad, clinical lecturer at the institute and co-first author of the study, tells DOTmed News.

Seeing is believing

The patients who had the stem-cell transplants were followed for a year and a half on average, although at least one patient was studied for three years.

Some of the patients showed remarkable recovery of sight, with some having their vision nearly restored to normal.

Dr. Ahmad notes that one patient went from only being able to see halfway down the famous Snellen eye-chart to reading near the bottom line, or almost 20/20 vision. Other patients who could only see hands moving in front of their eyes could see the top lines of the chart after treatment.

"A lot get considerable improvement," says Dr. Ahmad. "You go from an eye that can't see to one that can see almost normally."

Of course, sight improvement varied tremendously, and the only one of the eight patients who had a thermal, not a chemical, burn, experienced almost no improvement in vision. Dr. Ahmad notes that this subject's lids were burned off, and lidlessness makes it harder for stem cell therapy to work.

Healing, too

But even for those patients whose sight didn't improve, there was perhaps a more important change: pain relief.

"They're all burn patients," says Dr. Ahmad. "What they get is not only blinding, it's painful. Every time they blink, they get irritation to the eye."

Dr. Ahmad says that all of the patients had less pain after the study was over. "For some, improvement in their pain is enough for them to consider it successful," he says.

Real breakthrough

Although restoring sight seems revolutionary enough, the real advance of the project, according to Dr. Ahmad, is that the stem-cell therapy didn't use products derived from animals, something that had previously happened in similar earlier studies such as one done at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London last year.

"This is the first technique to grow the cells that is animal-free, no animal cells or products," says Dr. Ahmad.

"One of the main hurdles in getting stem cells to clinic is you have to overcome the requirements of using animal cells or products which might result in the transmission of pathogens of one species to another. This eliminates that sort of risk," he says.

Next steps

The UK's Medical Research Council has just funded the project to study 25 more patients for the next three years.

But the real challenge could be making the therapy available to more than just the next batch of patients. Creating the corneal cells requires advanced techniques and high-tech laboratories, which are not widely available, and the stem cells, after growing on the amniotic membrane, won't survive travel. To lengthen their shelf-life, Dr. Ahmad hopes to work on a way to freeze the cells so they can be shipped across Europe, or even to developing countries, where they can be thawed and used to restore sight.

"That would be the longer-term plan for how we'll make this much more accessible for other places," he says.

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Researchers Check Suspicious Looking Mole (Rat)

2009-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

There is one species that's winning the rat race against cancer, and researchers are uncovering why the hairless animal is so superior. Scientists at the University of Rochester in New York are studying the naked mole rat, the only known animal immune to cancer; and they hope the buck-toothed creature will unlock long-standing mysteries surrounding the disease -- and help humans find a cure.

The naked mole rat is among several types of burrowing rodents, a diverse species widely used for scientific research. Their lifespan of up to 30 years is staggeringly long for the species. And three decades of life is certainly enough time for most animals to develop cancerous cells. However, unlike mice and humans -- two species often used in cancer research -- cancerous tumors have never been found in the mole rat.

The animal has a unique genetic defense against the disease according to head researcher Vera Gorbunova, associate professor of biology; her associate Andrei Seluanov, research professor of biology; and their colleagues at the university. The findings of their studies are shared in the October issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

According to the study, the naked mole rat shares a gene with humans and many other animals called p27, which prevents the overcrowding among cells that can lead to cancer. However, researchers have now uncovered a second defense uniquely possessed by naked mole rats.

As part of the study, Gorbunova and her team attempted to mutate cells in the rodents in an effort to induce tumors. However, they found that the p16 gene found in the creatures provides a highly pronounced cancer-proof effect. Cells refused to replicate in the animals due to their evolved defense system, preventing overcrowding at a rate much earlier than in other animals. Gorbunova explains, "We realized that whatever was doing this was probably the same thing that prevented cancer from ever getting started in the mole rats."

Before stumbling upon the naked mole rat's cancer-proof system, Gorbunova and Seluanov investigated other rodent species around the world in an effort to better understand cancer and its effect. She recalls, "We were interested in comparative biology of aging and were studying short- and long-lived rodent species. (The) naked mole rat stood out by being an exceptionally long-lived and cancer-free rodent. We suspected that naked mole rats may use a novel anticancer mechanism that is not found in mice or humans."

Through their testing methods, any other species would have become cancerous. Gorbunova admits she was stunned by the findings, which she calls "a bit of a surprise."

However, she is hesitant to theorize how her research could affect cancer research in humans and other species. She explains, "It's very early to speculate about the implications." On expanding her research she adds, "We are working to identify the triggers of early contact inhibition with the hope of using those molecules to arrest the growth of cancer cells."

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Skin & Wound Care Tips

2009-11-17T12:40:00.000-08:00

Our skin is the first line of defense against disease and injury, yet we often take our skin for granted. Neglecting skin injuries, skin damage and skin wounds can lead to life-threatening conditions such as skin cancer, chronic non-healing wounds, system-wide spread of infection and amputation of limbs. By being alert to skin changes, early skin damage and proper wound care we can treat skin diseases promptly and avoid serious complications.

Treating chronic wounds is estimated to cost Americans $5 billion-$7 billion annually. And the number of patients with chronic wounds increases10 percent every year. Approximately 10-15 percent of diabetics develop chronic wounds, amounting to nearly two million chronic wound patients. As the incidence of diabetes and circulatory disease increases with the growth of the elderly population, the costs of chronic wound care is expected to increase as well.

Any physical injury that breaks the skin is classified as a wound and needs prompt first-aid care. Common causes of wounds include cuts, punctures, scrapes and tears of the skin. Keeping a wound clean is a priority and may help avoid an infection at the wound site. Wash your hands before giving wound first aid. All wounds should be cleaned thoroughly with mild soap and water. Next, apply an antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage. If a wound has an embedded object larger than a splinter, seek medical attention immediately—do not remove the object.

We offer thousands of medical supplies, and a full range of wound care supplies at rock bottom prices. Shop online at Cristia Medical Supply anytime this month and use discount code: Discount44 to receive 5% off your entire order.

H1N1 has killed 3,900 Americans

2009-11-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – H1N1 swine flu killed an estimated 3,900 Americans from April to October, including more than 500 children, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.

Better data than was previously available shows the flu pandemic has infected an estimated 22 million Americans and put 98,000 in the hospital, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Children account for 8 million of the infected, 36,000 of those hospitalized and 540 deaths.

"We think the 540 number is a better estimate for the big picture that we are getting out there," the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat told reporters.

About 82 U.S. children die in an average flu season. The CDC said H1N1 has produced the worst flu season in the United States since 1997, when current measurements started.

"What we are seeing in 2009 is unprecedented," Schuchat said," Schuchat said.

The CDC said doctors need to treat severe cases quickly with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, made by Roche AG, Relenza, made by GlaxoSmithKline or for especially grave hospitalized cases, peramivir, made by BioCryst.

Schuchat stressed the pandemic was not worsening but noted that it takes time to gather data on flu cases and deaths. The count released on Thursday is not an actual reckoning of deaths but an extrapolation based on detailed data from 10 states.

CDC's previous estimate of U.S. flu deaths was 1,200.

In an average flu season, about 36,000 Americans die and 200,000 are hospitalized with 90 percent of deaths and hospitalizations among people over 65.

With H1N1, 90 percent of those infected and seriously ill are younger adults and children.

Schuchat said the pandemic would likely continue through the winter and early spring. "We have a long flu season ahead of us," she said.

Most confirmed flu cases are H1N1 and about 30 percent of people who show up at the doctor's office and are actually tested for influenza turn out to have flu, as opposed to some other infection.

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Scientists Make Mice Immune to Radiation

2009-11-02T14:01:00.001-08:00

In a breakthrough that could change the lives of cancer victims, pilots and nuclear power plant workers, researchers might have found a way to protect cells from radiation damage.

In a study published in the new AAAS journal Science Translational Medicine (see video below), researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the National Cancer Institute found that they could protect healthy cells from radiation injury by turning off an inhibitory pathway that regulates nitric oxide.

"[Nitric oxide] is a bio gas, produced by enzymes in cells, and flies around almost at light speed compared to other processes," Jeff Isenberg, M.D., a professor at Pitt's school of medicine, tells DOTmed News.

While nitric oxide mostly works to prevent clotting of arteries, it also appears to help animals survive stress conditions.

But Dr. Isenberg and his team made the discovery that by switching off a related inhibitory pathway that controls nitric oxide, they could give animals "near immunity to record levels of radiation," he says.

In mice, when Dr. Isenberg and his team introduced a drug that prevented a protein, thrombospondin-1, from binding to a surface cell receptor called CD47, the animals could endure almost unheard-of doses of radiation with virtually no ill effects.

In cellular studies, cells could withstand up to the tested amount: 60 Gy. And in whole animal studies, mice could endure the limit they were given: 40 Gy.

"Primarily, [on mice] people are using 5-10 Gy. This is off the scale from what they've published," he says.

Shockingly, the irradiated rodents were almost completely unharmed. Other than some mild hair loss at the site of dosage, there was almost no cell death or damage when histological samples were checked.

"There was no skin laceration or muscle loss," Dr. Isenberg says. "When we stained for cell death, we didn't even see significant loss of bone marrow, which is exquisitely sensitive...to radiation damage."

In comparison, control mice -- who didn't get the pathway-blocking treatment -- were eaten away with tissue loss and "frank necrosis of the limbs."

In fact, one reason Dr. Isenberg doesn't know the upper-limits of protection the drug confers to a whole animal is that ethics boards refuse to give permission to expose mice to much more than 40 Gy. (Whatever he gives to the treated mice -- who will be fine -- he has to give to the untreated mice, who will not.)

However, he says at some point radiation would damage tissue through thermal energy, which this process might not be able to stop.

Clinical benefits

Perhaps equally exciting, Dr. Isenberg and his team found that while his technique protected healthy cells from damage, it actually increased the effectiveness of radiation treatments on cancer cells.

The reason, Dr. Isenberg suspects, is that while the tumors were not protected by inhibitory-pathway blocking actions, the immune cells surrounding them were, and are thus able to attack the weakened tumor following radiotherapy exposure.

The potential applications of this technique are manifold, from protecting patients getting CT or X-ray exams to helping certain workers, such as commercial airline pilots and engineers at nuclear power plants, from higher-than-normal radiation exposure in their job. Because of the diverse ways that the pathway can be blocked, sunscreens could even be developed to help protect skin cells from UV rays.

Future research

Dr. Isenberg believes that in addition to radiation, this pathway has profound implications for heart disease and other disorders "perhaps on a scale not yet appreciated," he says.

Currently, his lab is working toward getting funds for toxicology tests so at some point drugs could be developed for humans. He also plans studies to see how long an effective dose lasts -- would someone get one-month, or one-year immunity following a dose?

Also, a bigger mystery is figuring out how, by blocking this pathway, cells are able to fix the damaged DNA within. Dr. Isenberg says they know that following radiation exposure, the DNA is scrambled, but somehow, with this treatment, the cells are able to get themselves right.

"It's not that we're blocking radiation from hitting the tissue," he says. "Somehow...they repair themselves, and go about their business."

And finally, research may reveal why we aren't born with the inhibitory pathway already blocked. Dr. Isenberg says the process probably evolved when deep sea fishes emerged on land, and somehow was used to regulate changes in internal pressure. So would turning it off create other, unwanted effects? Although none were seen in the studies, nitric oxide is a powerful vasodilator, he says, and maybe the body needs some way to control it.

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House Subcommittee Passes American Medical Isotopes Production Act

2009-10-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

The House Energy and Environmental Subcommittee has passed the "American Medical Isotopes Production Act."

The Act was recently the subject of a Subcommittee hearing. (See DM 10258). The hearing considered concerns about current and anticipated shortages of molybdenum-99, and about highly enriched uranium being in use for medical isotope production, due to its possible use in nuclear weapons and explosives. The bill was amended by Chairman Markey (D-MA) with an amendment in the nature of the substitute. The bill will now go to the full Committee on Energy and Commerce for a vote.

In additional new findings, the amendment states that other important medical isotopes, including iodine-131 and xenon-133, can be produced as byproducts of the molybdenum-99 fission production process. These byproducts provide an important benefit of establishing molybdenum-99 production in the United States that should also be available for necessary medical uses.

Balancing Medical and Security Needs

The bill provides $163 million for the Secretary of Energy to support projects for the domestic production of molybdenum-99, without the use of highly enriched uranium. Projects will be selected by the Secretary of Energy based on three criteria: the length of time necessary for the proposed project to begin production of molybdenum-99 for medical uses within the United States; the capability of the proposed project to produce a significant percentage of United States demand for molybdenum-99 for medical uses; and the cost of the proposed project.

A new program would be established at the Department of Energy to make low enriched uranium available to domestic molybdenum-99 producers. The DOE will retain responsibility for the final disposition of radioactive waste created by the irradiation, processing, or purification of leased uranium.

The bill prohibits export of highly-enriched uranium from the United States for medical isotope production seven years after enactment of the Act.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be allowed to issue a license for the use of highly enriched uranium as a target for medical isotope production if: there is no low-enriched uranium target that can be used in that reactor; the reactor operator has provided assurances to convert to the use of low-enriched uranium targets when able; and the reactor operator has provided a current report on the status of its efforts to convert the reactor to low-enriched uranium fuel, and an anticipated schedule for completion of conversion.

Finally, the bill requires annual reports from the Department of Energy for six years on the Department's actions and progress in supporting the production of molybdenum-99 in the United States, and a study by the National Academy of Sciences on the state of molybdenum-99 production and utilization, to be provided to Congress five years after enactment of the Act. The NAS study will assess progress made in the previous five years on establishing domestic production of molybdenum-99 for medical uses, including the extent to which other medical isotopes co-produced with molybdenum-99, such as iodine-131 and xenon-133, are being used for medical purposes.

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FDA to Launch Study on LASIK Surgery

2009-10-26T10:43:00.001-07:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing a collaborative study with the National Eye Institute and the U.S. Department of Defense to research "the potential impact on quality of life" for patients who have received Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK). LASIK surgery is a procedure that involves an excimer laser for precise and controlled alteration of the cornea to change its focusing power.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, LASIK can treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, with around 90 percent of people who have the procedure achieving between 20/20 and 20/40 vision without the use of glasses or contact lenses. According to LASIK Surgery News, the procedure is the most popular global vision correction procedure, with around 1.3 million LASIK surgeries performed in the U.S. in 2006. In 2007 NASA even approved the use of advanced Lasik surgery for U.S. astronauts.

The FDA states on its "LASIK" medical device page that risks of the procedure include severe dry eye syndrome, glare, halo or double vision, especially at night, and losing vision.

The FDA says the goal of the "LASIK Quality of Life Collaboration Project" is to find out what percentage of persons who have undergone the surgery later suffer significant quality of life problems and also to identify predictors of such complications.

The project will be commenced in three phases. Phase 1 already began in July, which was to design and implement a web-based questionnaire on patient-reported outcomes. The FDA had previously established a public docket for LASIK so that any interested party can pose comments or concerns regarding LASIK. This docket is available through the FDA LASIK site.

Phase 2 will involve studying quality of life and satisfaction issues after LASIK surgery within a select, active duty population undergoing treatment at the Navy Refractive Surgery Center. Phase 3 will involve a national, multi-center clinical trial with similar study on quality of life following LASIK in the general population and is expected to be completed in 2012. Patient enrollment in Phases 2 and 3 has not yet begun.

The FDA expects that results from the project can be used to identify factors in the side effects of the surgery and hopefully reduce those adverse effects. The FDA will evaluate potential action if any adverse effects are related to the safety or effectiveness of the lasers used in LASIK surgery.

"This study will enhance our understanding of the risks of LASIK and could lead to a reduction in patients who experience adverse effects from the procedure," said Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a press release on the FDA's website.

The FDA also announced that it has issued warning letters to 17 LASIK ambulatory surgical centers following inspections that revealed inadequate adverse event reporting systems within the centers. The inspections had taken place over the last several months with some inspections still pending. The inspections did not find problems with the actual use of the LASIK devices at these facilities.

"Many people in the U.S. undergo LASIK procedures," Shuren stated about the inspections. "Ambulatory surgical centers that perform LASIK must maintain a robust reporting system as required by law. Reporting adverse events to the FDA is critical to better understand the safety and effectiveness of ophthalmic lasers used in LASIK procedures and to enable the FDA to take appropriate actions where the lasers do not meet safety and effectiveness requirements."

Adapted in part from an FDA press release.

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Headphones Could Put Heart Devices on the Fritz

2009-10-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

Magnetic interference from portable headphones could cause potentially life-threatening disturbances in implanted cardiac devices.

A study published this month in the journal Heart Rhythm revealed that magnetic fields emitting from headphones could affect pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) when placed closer than three centimeters from the chest.

Researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston took 100 patients with either pacemakers or ICDs, and exposed them to eight different kinds of headphones. Magnetic fields from the ear-pieces messed with about a third of all devices in the study. Around 38 percent of all ICDs wobbled, making them more sensitive to the interference than pacemakers, of which only 20 percent were affected.

Magnetic interference was strongest if the headphones emitted fields 10 gauss or higher at two centimeters away from the chest, but it would be hard for a consumer to gauge the power of a store-bought headphone.

If you have an implant but don't want to ditch your iPod, don't worry: no interference was seen at all in any of the headphones if they were held a good distance away from the torso. Keeping headphones three centimeters or more away was enough to stop the effect.

And once the headphones were taken away, all devices returned to normal, except one, which was permanently re-jiggered to a different rhythm. (The patient was unharmed.)

The two cardiac devices are receptive to magnets in part because magnet-deactivation can be clinically useful, William Maisel, M.D., the lead author of the study and the director of the Medical Device Safety Institute at Beth Israel, tells DOTmed News. "At times we want to temporarily deactivate an ICD (like when someone is going for surgery). Placing a magnet over their device can do this in a convenient way."

But although no one in the study was seriously affected, unintentional magnet-deactivation can be dangerous. "In pacemakers, the magnetic interference results in 'asynchronous pacing' - which means that the pacemaker delivers signals to the heart without regard to the underlying heart rhythm," Dr. Maisel explains. "Rarely, this could trigger...arrhythmia."

And in defibrillators, a sufficient magnetic interference could prevent the device from noticing heart rhythm irregularities. "If the patient had a life-threatening heart problem while the magnet (or headphone) were over their device, the device would not treat it," Dr. Maisel warns.

Dr. Maisel began investigating the subject after reports published two year ago suggested iPods interfered with pacemakers. These reports were later shown to be false, he says.

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Men Aren't Being Told of Prostate Cancer Surgery Risks

2009-10-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

The majority of men receiving PSA tests for prostate cancer may not be receiving adequate information before deciding whether to be screened, and whether to undergo surgery if cancer is spotted, two papers published in the September 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine conclude.

The first study found that among 375 men surveyed, only 69.9 percent had discussed the ramifications of having a PSA test with their physicians, says Richard Hoffman, M.D., M.P.H., of the New Mexico VA Health Care System and the University of New Mexico.

Hoffman said that while 93.9 percent of the men who did speak to their doctors said they were told of the test's benefits, only 32 percent of these men had been told about the potential downsides of treatment.

Most of the men surveyed believed that surgery reduced mortality rates. In fact, Dr. Hoffman writes, many prostate cancers are slow-growing and never spread, so that surgery appears to offer "only a modest survival benefit." He notes that the majority of men undergoing surgery will suffer from impotence and incontinence.

Men "need a greater level of involvement in screening discussions and to be better informed about prostate cancer screening issues," Dr. Hoffman concludes.

In an accompanying editorial to his article, Steven Woolf, M.D., M.P.H., and Alex Krist, M.D., M.P.H., of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, said health care professionals "should use decision aids and other tools to help patients obtain accurate, evidence-based information about the advantages and disadvantages of testing.

"Treatment of early-stage prostate cancer results in impotence, incontinence, or both in about 50 percent of men," the physicians write in their editorial, noting that left alone, the cancer may not cause any problems.

In the second study on this topic in the Archives, Kirsten Howard, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of Sydney and colleagues found that screening increases the chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer from 23 per 1,000 men to 53 per 1,000 men over a 10 year period.

The number of men with treatment-related impotence or incontinence is also twice as common: about 26 percent versus 12 percent, while the chance of death from prostate cancer is reduced only slightly from four in 1,000 men to 3 in 1,000 men," Howard and her colleagues conclude.

Men having PSA tests need to be given this information before deciding whether to have surgery, Howard writes.

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MRI Can Help Diagnose, Treat Diabetes

2009-09-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

MRI and other imaging technologies could help doctors diagnose and treat diabetes, according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital believe MRIs could finally offer doctors a direct method of checking the health of the pancreas and the beta cells that produce insulin.

Currently, doctors check pancreatic well-being and diagnose diabetes indirectly, through tests of blood biochemistry, such as fasting glucose
levels. But by the time changes to the blood chemistry show up, it's too late for patients with type 1 diabetes, says Anna Moore, Ph.D., co-author of the study and director of the Molecular Imaging Laboratory at the hospital.

"In type 1 diabetes, the autoimmune system attacks your beta cells," she tells DOTmed News. "It happens way before any change in blood sugar. When you start seeing the change in blood sugar, the attack is done. The beta cells are damaged.

"If we could detect this attack before full-blown beta cell death," she continues, "then we could prevent it. We could possibly put these people on some kind of medication" before their beta cells die off.

Although imaging technology wouldn't be as useful in diagnosing patients with type 2 diabetes, because the disease process is so different, she
thinks MRI imaging could help doctors monitor how well patients respond to treatment, including a clinical procedure for type 1 diabetes patients called islet transplantation, where islets from a healthy pancreas are transplanted into the liver of the diabetic patient. As this procedure could disturb the transplant and lead to its failure, MRI imaging could help doctors non-invasively observe how well the new islets are faring.

Right now, doctors are not able to image functional beta cell masses, Dr. Moore says, but she's hopeful that labs working in Europe and the U.S. -- including hers -- will get there soon.

"There are [already] ways to image dying cells," says Dr. Moore, noting that these techniques have revolutionized cancer research. If it works on beta cell masses, "it would be an excellent method for diagnosis," she says.

Dr. Moore's lab uses a combination PET-MRI (called MR-PET), made by Siemens, with an MRI-compatible PET insert fitted into the machine, one of only two such devices in the world, she says.

Read the special MRI issue of DOTmed Business News; the September 2009 edition is now online.

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Swine Flu News Update

2009-09-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Influenza, including H1N1, increases the incidence of heart attack by as much as 50 percent, British researchers report in the current online edition of Lancet Infectious Diseases.

While vaccination against influenza can reduce the incidence of heart attack, usually only 30 percent to 40 percent of patients receive the seasonal flu vaccine, the study authors from University College, London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, say.

Perhaps with pandemic fears rising, cardiologists and their patients will take heed of the new study: Scientists looked at 42 papers, published between 1932 and 2008, examining the connection between flu and heart attacks. All of the trials showed that heart attack incidence climbed during times when influenza was active: heart disease incidents soared from 35 percent to 50 percent during these periods, the study noted.

Four of eight observational studies and two small clinical trials proved that vaccination lowered MI incidence.

The authors say that flu triggers heart disease by causing inflammation in the heart and blood vessels, leading to blood clots.

China: First to Launch Vaccination Campaign

In other news, China this week became the first country to vaccinate some of its population against swine flu with a locally-produced vaccine made by Sinovac.

About 100,000 students in Beijing, due to participate in a national celebration on October 1, were first to receive the shot. (Young people under 24 are said to be in the highest risk group). The Chinese Health Ministry says it hopes it can vaccinate 65 million people, or about 5 percent of the population, by the end of this year.

Adjuvant Brouhaha

Meanwhile, in the U.S., controversy has been brewing over the possible use of adjuvants in swine vaccines--substances that increase the potency of vaccines fourfold.

Detractors, including health care personnel, say the adjuvants haven't been proven safe and that they would refuse to take any adjuvant-based vaccine approved at breakneck speed. Novartis reports that it has sold adjuvant-based vaccines to every country, except the U.S. The additives are widely used in Europe.

The WHO supports the use of adjuvants and says that given what is expected to be a worldwide shortage of the vaccine, the wealthiest countries would get it, while the poorest countries would be shortchanged without the use of adjuvants to stretch supplies.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation agrees with WHO and so does FDA. "These are products that potentially can be given to millions of healthy people," said Dr. Jesse Goodman, chief scientist at the FDA. "But there's uncertainty," he conceded.

Fortunately, the use of adjuvants in swine flu vaccines may be a moot point. Studies in the last two weeks have proven that a single shot of the vaccine is enough to confer full immunity on people over the age of 10 years. Health officials had believed two shots would be necessary, prompting concerns over shortages.

Puzzling Substance

Adjuvants are still puzzling substances to many in the U.S. but scientists are now racing to study them. Currently, there is just one adjuvant-based vaccine approved in the U.S., for tetanus and hepatitis B. This vaccine uses a weak adjuvant, dubbed "Alum", for aluminum.

Gardasil, the Merck cervical cancer vaccine, also uses an aluminum adjuvant.

More powerful adjuvants are in the pipeline. For example, An FDA advisory panel recently recommended approval of Cervarix, a vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer. The vaccine, made by GlaxoSmithKline, uses an adjuvant that's a bacterial lipid.

Also in the news, CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, M.D. acknowledged that he and a camera operator came down with the H1N1 flu during a recent assignment in Afghanistan. They have recovered according to CNN.

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A Pill a Day to Keep Cancer Away?

2009-09-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Safe drugs that starve growing tumors of blood could turn cancer into a "chronically manageable disease," according to researchers in Israel.

Ronit Satchi-Fainaro, Ph.D., a researcher in nanotechnology at Tel Aviv University, and her team were able to shrink tumors in mice by more than 50 percent by cutting off the tumors' blood supply, according to two papers published recently in PLoS One and the German chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie.

Even more importantly, their therapy appears to be non-toxic, with mice showing none of the side effects typical of chemotherapy treatments, such as weight loss and neurological disorders. If these findings hold, it could pave the way for safe prophylactic drug regimens against cancer.

HAILING THE DRUG "TAXI CAB"

Taxol, a powerful chemotherapy drug, is deadly to tumors, cutting off their access to blood. But it has huge drawbacks. It usually lasts only a few minutes in the bloodstream as it's quickly broken down by the body's own defense mechanisms, so large doses are needed for it to work and even then its effect is weak. And worse, for the time it does last, it can cause serious damage to healthy tissue because of its toxicity. And because it's not water soluble, it can even slip past the blood-brain barrier, extending its toxic reach to the brain.

But Dr. Satchi-Fainaro and her team figured out a way to both get it past the immune system so smaller, more potent doses could be used, and eliminate its side effects. She and her team bound it to a polymer, "a carrier, like a taxi driver," she tells DOTmed Business News, "that will take it only to the tumor."

The polymer is an inert macromolecule -- it masks the drug so the immune system ignores it, and it's too large to leave the blood except in locations where the blood vessels are leaky. And these happen to be only at sites where tumor cells grow, and have recruited new vessels that feed them so they can swell in size, a process known as angiogenesis.

So now the polymer-bound drug can pass through the bloodstream unmolested, and then slip through the leaky blood vessels, where it can unleash its payload directly onto the tumor, choking its supply of blood and causing it to shrivel up to a harmless size.

BAD TO THE BONE

Dr. Satchi-Fainaro also looked to see if her technique could fight some of the most drug-resistant cancers known to medicine: cancers that have traveled from the breast or prostate and metastasized in the bone.

Dr. Satchi-Fainaro and her team first took some bisphosphonate, a family of drugs used to treat bone cancers and osteoporosis. She then tethered it to her conjugate of polymer and Taxol, attaching it with a molecule that is broken down by an enzyme in the body -- one highly over-expressed in bone tumors. So when the conjugate approaches a bone tumor, the bond is snapped and the drugs are delivered only to the cancer.

In mice, Dr. Satchi-Fainaro's drugs were able to inhibit about half of all growth of drug-resistant tumors. In other, more drug-sensitive, tumors, "[We] basically eradicated the tumor or tumor metastasis, or got them back to dormant size -- about one millimeter," she says.

"I'm very realistic," she says. "If I can regress the massive angiogenesis, and get [tumors] to regress to dormant size, it's basically transforming cancer into a chronically manageable disease, like diabetes. As long as we have drugs that are non-toxic, we can keep the tumors at this size and live like that [taking the drugs]."

Dr. Satchi-Fainaro thinks this "tumor dormancy model" will be most appropriate for populations like women with mutations to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, who have such a high risk for deadly breast cancer they often have both their breasts removed in precautionary double mastectomies. "To those women," Dr. Satchi-Fainaro says, "this can be a much better physical prophylactic treatment."

Currently, Dr. Satchi-Fainaro is licensing this treatment to a pharmaceutical company (she won't say which), and is also trying to figure out why cancers seem to thrive in bones. "That's the six million dollar question," she says.

www.CristiaMedicalSupply.com

Wound Care Supplies On Sale !!

2009-09-22T16:36:00.001-07:00

Cristia Medical Supply is now offering a super wide variety of Wound Therapy Products, and to make things even better, All of our Wound Therapy Products are currently on sale.

Receive a 5% discount when ordering any or our Wound Therapy Products. Offer good until Oct 31 St.

Just use the Coupon code below when checking out to receive 5% off your entire order !!

Coupon: Discount44

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Largest Health Care Fraud Settlement in History

2009-09-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and its subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. (hereinafter together "Pfizer") have agreed to pay $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice, to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products, the Justice Department announced today.

Pharmacia & Upjohn Company has agreed to plead guilty to a felony violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for mis-branding Bextra with the intent to defraud or mislead. Bextra is an anti-inflammatory drug that Pfizer pulled from the market in 2005. Under the provisions of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, a company must specify the intended uses of a product in its new drug application to FDA. Once approved, the drug may not be marketed or promoted for so-called "off-label" uses - i.e., any use not specified in an application and approved by FDA. Pfizer promoted the sale of Bextra for several uses and dosages that the FDA specifically declined to approve due to safety concerns. The company will pay a criminal fine of $1.195 billion, the largest criminal fine ever imposed in the United States for any matter. Pharmacia & Upjohn will also forfeit $105 million, for a total criminal resolution of $1.3 billion.

In addition, Pfizer has agreed to pay $1 billion to resolve allegations under the civil False Claims Act that the company illegally promoted four drugs - Bextra; Geodon, an anti-psychotic drug; Zyvox, an antibiotic; and Lyrica, an anti-epileptic drug - and caused false claims to be submitted to government health care programs for uses that were not medically accepted indications and therefore not covered by those programs. The civil settlement also resolves allegations that Pfizer paid kickbacks to health care providers to induce them to prescribe these, as well as other drugs. The federal share of the civil settlement is $668,514,830 and the state Medicaid share of the civil settlement is $331,485,170. This is the largest civil fraud settlement in history against a pharmaceutical company.

As part of the settlement, Pfizer also has agreed to enter into an expansive corporate integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. That agreement provides for procedures and reviews to be put in place to avoid and promptly detect conduct similar to that which gave rise to this matter.

Whistleblower lawsuits filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act that are pending in the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Eastern District of Kentucky, triggered this investigation. As a part of today's resolution, six whistleblowers will receive payments totaling more than $102 million from the federal share of the civil recovery.

The U.S. Attorney's offices for the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Eastern District of Kentucky, and the Civil Division of the Department of Justice handled these cases. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts led the criminal investigation of Bextra. The investigation was conducted by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Office of Criminal Investigations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Veterans' Administration's (VA) Office of Criminal Investigations, the Office of the Inspector General for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Postal Service (USPS), the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units and the offices of various state Attorneys General.

"Today's landmark settlement is an example of the Department of Justice's ongoing and intensive efforts to protect the American public and recover funds for the federal treasury and the public from those who seek to earn a profit through fraud. It shows one of the many ways in which federal government, in partnership with its state and local allies, can help the American people at a time when budgets are tight and health care costs are increasing," said Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli. "This settlement is a testament to the type of broad, coordinated effort among federal agencies and with our state and local partners that is at the core of the Department of Justice's approach to law enforcement."

"This historic settlement will return nearly $1 billion to Medicare, Medicaid, and other government insurance programs, securing their future for the Americans who depend on these programs," said Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services. "The Department of Health and Human Services will continue to seek opportunities to work with its government partners to prosecute fraud wherever we can find it. But we will also look for new ways to prevent fraud before it happens. Health care is too important to let a single dollar go to waste."

"Illegal conduct and fraud by pharmaceutical companies puts the public health at risk, corrupts medical decisions by health care providers, and costs the government billions of dollars," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. "This civil settlement and plea agreement by Pfizer represent yet another example of what penalties will be faced when a pharmaceutical company puts profits ahead of patient welfare."

"The size and seriousness of this resolution, including the huge criminal fine of $1.3 billion, reflect the seriousness and scope of Pfizer's crimes," said Mike Loucks, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. "Pfizer violated the law over an extensive time period. Furthermore, at the very same time Pfizer was in our office negotiating and resolving the allegations of criminal conduct by its then newly acquired subsidiary, Warner-Lambert, Pfizer was itself in its other operations violating those very same laws. Today's enormous fine demonstrates that such blatant and continued disregard of the law will not be tolerated."

"Although these types of investigations are often long and complicated and require many resources to achieve positive results, the FBI will not be deterred from continuing to ensure that pharmaceutical companies conduct business in a lawful manner," said Kevin Perkins, FBI Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division.

"This resolution protects the FDA in its vital mission of ensuring that drugs are safe and effective. When manufacturers undermine the FDA's rules, they interfere with a doctor's judgment and can put patient health at risk," commented Michael L. Levy, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. "The public trusts companies to market their drugs for uses that FDA has approved, and trusts that doctors are using independent judgment. Federal health dollars should only be spent on treatment decisions untainted by misinformation from manufacturers concerned with the bottom line."

"This settlement demonstrates the ongoing efforts to pursue violations of the False Claims Act and recover taxpayer dollars for the Medicare and Medicaid programs," noted Jim Zerhusen, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

"This historic settlement emphasizes the government's commitment to corporate and individual accountability and to transparency throughout the pharmaceutical industry," said Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. "The corporate integrity agreement requires senior Pfizer executives and board members to complete annual compliance certifications and opens Pfizer to more public scrutiny by requiring it to make detailed disclosures on its Web site. We expect this agreement to increase integrity in the marketing of pharmaceuticals."

"The off-label promotion of pharmaceutical drugs by Pfizer significantly impacted the integrity of TRICARE, the Department of Defense's health care system," said Sharon Woods, Director, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. "This illegal activity increases patients' costs, threatens their safety and negatively affects the delivery of health care services to the over nine million military members, retirees and their families who rely on this system. Today's charges and settlement demonstrate the ongoing commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and its law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that abuse the government's health care programs at the expense of the taxpayers and patients."

"Federal employees deserve health care providers and suppliers, including drug manufacturers, that meet the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior," said Patrick E. McFarland, Inspector General of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. "Today's settlement reminds the pharmaceutical industry that it must observe those standards and reflects the commitment of federal law enforcement organizations to pursue improper and illegal conduct that places health care consumers at risk."

"Health care fraud has a significant financial impact on the Postal Service. This case alone impacted more than 10,000 postal employees on workers' compensation who were treated with these drugs," said Joseph Finn, Special Agent in Charge for the Postal Service's Office of Inspector General. "Last year the Postal Service paid more than $1 billion in workers' compensation benefits to postal employees injured on the job."

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

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Complaints About Philips Fetal Monitors

2009-09-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

Having received a number of complaints about inaccurate readings when using some Philips Avalon fetal monitors, the FDA has issued a MedWatch and "Dear Health Care provider" letter about Models FM20, FM30, FM40 and FM50 with the ultrasound transducer.

Philips issued its own safety alert, as inaccurate output readings could lead to unnecessary interventions, failure to identify the need for interventions, and failure to identify fetal distress, the FDA said in a statement. Adverse events related to the product should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.

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Discount for all Privacy Screens, and Medical Privacy Curtains.

2009-09-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

At Cristia Medical Supply, we love to keep our customers happy with nice discounts whenever possible, so we have put together a nice coupon code for new and existing customers.

Until October 31, we are offering everyone that comes to our store a 5% discount off our entire selection of Medical Privacy Screens. This can really add up, especially when ordering more than one.

The Privacy Screens that we offer comes with vinyl curtains, which are antimicrobial, antistatic, odor, stain, and flame resistant. You can choose from just about any color option to match the style and decor of any setting.

Just use code: Discount44 when ordering and the discount will automatically be applied to your order.

The Medical Privacy Curtains that we offer have been in very high demand ever since we added them to our product line. This is likely due to the large selection we offer and the many different options that can be applied to the privacy screens.

Cristia Medical Supply, Inc.

Don't Slip and fall in the Bathroom !!

2009-08-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

It is a frequent occurrence in all my friends’ lives: their showers are in their bathtubs and they have to step up and over the edge to get into them. This present all kinds of hazards to anyone who is using the shower. If there’s a little bit of water still sitting in the tub, then it will be slippery and the person will have trouble getting to use it. If it’s a little higher than is comfortable, the person could trip. And in a bathroom, any kind of slip, trip or fall could be very serious since there are so many hard things in there. And stepping up and over isn’t all that easy, because most people take showers when they are somewhat tired. But there are steps you can take to make moving in and out of the bathroom safer. Many people today, can find all types of bathroom safety products at our online store located at:

www.cristiamedicalsupply.com/Bathroom-Safety-Products-s/34.htm

The shower chairs we offer provide customers with a safe an sturdy surface to sit down on while in the shower. These shower chairs can be very useful for shaving legs, or for injured or elderly people.

Bathroom Grab bars can also be very handy. Just imagine how many times you may have slipped, but was lucky enough to have some type of bathroom grab bar to hold onto. The bars we carry come in all sizes and styles.

Our team at Cristia Medical Supply has spent a great deal of time putting together one of the largest selections on-line of Bathroom Safety Products.

What makes shopping online with us for your bathroom safety products even better, is that we offer 100% FREE SHIPPING on EVERYTHING !!

This is sometimes no other medical supply company can offer.

If you are looking for Bath Accessories, Commode Chairs, Shower Chairs, Transfer Benches, Bathroom Grab Bars, or Toilet Seat Accessories we got what you need to make the bathroom a bit safer. Also, we are always interested in new and exciting products. If you have any suggestions or comments, we would love to hear from you at Cristia Medical Supply

www.CristiaMedicalSupply.com

Cristia Medical Supply offering usefull information about Bathroom Safety

2009-07-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of different people who are asking me whether bathrooms are frequently accessible in other places in the world besides their own home. And it’s true. Let’s take universities as an example. Vasser College has a site that lists the accommodations of their different buildings on campus. There are lots of places on campus that will have accessible bathrooms. That is, bathrooms that anyone can use safely, because it has grab bars and other helps like that together in one place. This is good for students with disabilities, parents, alumni and visitors. Essentially all the buildings that were built over the course of the last 20 years or so are accessible. Older buildings are often outfitted in such a way that they can become accessible, at least to a minimal degree. Universities are beginning to realize that having a few grab bars and other similar kinds of assistance in bathrooms is usually quite inexpensive and doesn’t usually get in the way of anything else. Expect more improvements on these fronts in the next several years!

As you can tell from this article, the bathroom can be a dangerous place at times. That's why we offer a super wide array of Bathroom Safety Products, like Transfer Benches, Shower Chairs, and Bath Benches, Bathtub Rails, Grab Bars, Toilet Seat Accessories, and many more.

www.cristiamedicalsupply.com

Influenza Pandemic Planning Needed for Pregnant Woman and Newborns

2009-07-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

Pregnant women and newborns are highly susceptible to flu. More planning must be done to ensure that they receive priority treatment should an outbreak occur, according to a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and University of Pittsburgh study.

The findings, published online in Emerging Health Threats Journal, raise concerns about the ability of hospitals to adequately treat this vulnerable population, particularly in light of the current H1N1 flu outbreak.

"Although it is not clear how well modern medicine will be able to prevent devastation during a large-scale infectious disease outbreak, it is widely recognized that advance planning may lessen the negative impact," said study author Richard Beigi, M.D., Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. "This is especially important for pregnant women, fetuses and neonates, all of whom are often left out of national level consideration."

The study was based on an Internet survey of the 12-member Council of Women's and Infants' Specialty Hospitals, a national organization of non-profits that share information and operational data to improve maternity and newborn care. Member hospitals account for over 120,000 deliveries annually. Seven of the nine are free-standing maternity hospitals and the other two are maternity hospitals within large health systems.

"A major concern we found was how to ethically ration limited medical resources when faced with too many patients and not enough medical supplies and personnel," said Dr. Beigi, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Reproductive Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

He added, "Although 56 percent of hospitals report that they have begun to address this issue, none have any formal plan yet in place. Another complicating factor is that despite the likelihood that this population will have an increased susceptibility to influenza during a pandemic, little data exist on the safety of vaccines and treatments to combat infectious disease in pregnant women and newborns."

The encouraging news is that 78 percent of the hospitals that responded have formal written plans in place to address communications, a surge in patient volume and possible degradation of non-essential medical services. All facilities planned to provide care to their own employees despite the potential for significant shortages of both personnel and medical supplies, and 56 percent of the hospitals planned to provide augmented day-care services for employees' children to help workers continue to work.

An additional area of concern is coordination with local, state and federal government public health agencies. Many hospitals, particularly private ones, are uncertain how they would interact with public health agencies.

Still, public health agencies will play a critical role in providing information, medications and vaccine dissemination since they will be supplied by the federal strategic stockpile and may have the most accurate information as a pandemic unfolds, Dr. Beigi said.

Although it is difficult to predict when the next influenza pandemic will occur, large scale outbreaks have been reported every 10 to 40 years. The emergence of H5N1 avian influenza in 1997 and the fact that nearly 40 years have passed since the last outbreak makes the threat of a severe pandemic a realistic possibility in the near future, Dr. Beigi noted.

"Many challenges remain if we are to improve on our efforts to optimize outcomes for pregnant women and newborns during the next influenza pandemic," he said. "It is hoped that this study will stimulate planning efforts for all hospitals providing maternity care in preparation for this apparently inevitable infectious disease outbreak."

by Lynn Shapiro

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President Obama Addresses the Nation on Health Care Reform

2009-07-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

President Obama held a much anticipated news conference Wednesday night and opened with remarks on health care reform. Tellingly, he called the topic "health insurance reform," reflecting a view that both public and private sector insurers contribute to the nation's explosive health care costs.

The president's focus was on the economic implications of health care reform. He opened by recapitulating the recent financial collapse, which the new administration is working to reverse. "As a result of the action we took those first weeks, we were able to pull the economy back from the brink," he said.

In the context of economic concerns over paying for health care he expressed confidence that health insurance reform can be accomplished without contributing to the deficit. He acknowledged support for a tax on wealthy Americans and opposed one for the middle class. He noted that the pharmaceutical industry has promised to cut costs and that inefficiencies and redundancies in health care delivery would be eliminated to contribute to expansion of coverage to uninsured populations. He said that doctors and not bureaucracies should determine coverages, a popular refrain.

"We spend much more on health care than any other nation, but aren't any healthier for it," he said while again noting that health insurance reform is central to the effort of rebuilding the economy.

"This is not just about the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance at all. Reform is about every American who has ever feared they may lose their coverage if they become too sick or lose their job. It's about every small business that has been forced to lay off employees or cut back on their coverage because it became too expensive. And it's about the fact that the biggest driving force behind our federal deficit is the skyrocketing cost of Medicare and Medicaid."

"If we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control our deficit," the president said, later adding, "we just can't afford what we're doing right now."

However, he did not promise that a public plan would absolutely be part of the solution as he has in the past. Instead, listing some of the areas of agreement so far forged in Congress, he said, "If you don't have health insurance you will be able to choose a quality, affordable health plan through a health insurance exchange, a marketplace that promotes choice and competition."

Other general principles mentioned include: no pre-existing condition limits, an option to keep current insurance, disallowance of dropped coverage for sickness, coverage despite job loss, limits on out-of-pocket costs, and coverage for preventive care.

He expressed an apolitical tone, emphasizing that health care reform is an important issue across the country, not just the political issue of the moment in Washington.

"I understand how easy it is for this town to become consumed in the game of politics -- to turn every issue into running tally of who's up and who's down. I've heard that one Republican strategist told his party that even though they may want to compromise, it's better politics to "go for the kill." Another Republican Senator said that defeating health reform is about 'breaking' me.

"So let me be clear: This isn't about me. I have great health insurance, and so does every Member of Congress. This debate is about the letters I read when I sit in the Oval Office every day, and the stories I hear at town hall meetings. This debate is not a game for these Americans, and they cannot afford to wait for reform any longer. They are counting on us to get this done. They are looking to us for leadership. And we must not let them down. We will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice, and provides coverage that every American can count on. And we will do it this year."

He reiterated that the plans would not add to the federal deficit, with two-thirds of the cost of reform paid for by reallocating money being wasted today.

AMA has embraced the plan.

"The status quo is unacceptable. The AMA has made clear its commitment to health reform this year," said J. James Rohack, M.D., President, American Medical Association. "Congress must take action to expand coverage to the uninsured through a choice of plans and eliminate denials for pre-existing conditions, include prevention and wellness initiatives, address medical liability reform and repeal the broken Medicare physician payment system that harms seniors' access to care. Without repeal, physicians face payment cuts of nearly 40 percent over the next five years that will force them to limit the number of seniors they can treat -- right as the baby boomers begin aging into Medicare."

by Barbara Kram

www.cristiamedicalsupply.com

2009-07-05T16:03:00.001-07:00

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Some Patients Are Not Notified of Abnormal Test Results

2009-07-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Some Patients Are Not Notified of Abnormal Test Results

CHICAGO - Primary care clinicians and their staff appear to fail to inform some patients, or to fail to document informing patients, about abnormal results on outpatient medical tests, according to a report in the June 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

"Ordering and following up on outpatient laboratory and imaging tests consumes large amounts of physician time and is important in the diagnostic process," the authors write as background information in the article. "Diagnostic errors are the most frequent cause of malpractice claims in the United States; testing-related mistakes can lead to serious diagnostic errors. There are many steps in the testing process, which extends from ordering a test to providing appropriate follow-up; an error in any one of these steps can have lethal consequences."

Lawrence P. Casalino, M.D., Ph.D., of Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, and colleagues reviewed the medical records of 5,434 randomly selected patients age 50 to 69 years in 23 primary care practices (19 community-based and four affiliated with academic medical centers). The researchers identified individuals with a clinically significantly abnormal result on one of 11 blood tests or three screening tests commonly performed on an outpatient basis. These patients' records were then assessed for an indication that he or she had been informed about the abnormal result. In cases for which there was no evidence such communication occurred, physicians were sent a form alerting them to the apparent oversight and giving them the opportunity to correct the record if the patient had been informed or to inform the patient at that time.

In addition, physicians responded to a six-question survey about the processes for managing test results at their practices and their satisfaction with these processes. Reviewers calculated a score ranging from zero to five for each practice, with five indicating that they closely followed five processes derived from the medical literature-routing results to the responsible physician, having the physician sign off on the results, informing the patient of all results (normal and abnormal, at least in general terms) and asking patients to call after a certain time period if they had not been notified of the results.

The reviewers identified 1,889 abnormal test results and 135 apparent failures to inform the patient or to document informing the patient-a rate of 7.1 percent, or about one of every 14 tests. The average process score was 3.8; most practices did not use all five of the basic processes suggested in the literature and most did not have explicit rules for notifying patients of results. "Failure rates varied widely among practices, from 0 percent to 26 percent; practices that used better processes to manage results had lower failure rates and had physicians who were more satisfied with the processes used," the authors write.

Practices that used a combination of paper and electronic records-a so-called partial electronic medical record-had the highest failure rates, whereas there was no significant difference between practices that used complete electronic medical records or paper records.

"Some elements of medical care (e.g., diagnosis) are an art as well as a science, depend heavily on the cognitive skills and effort of individual physicians, involve much uncertainty and will probably always have relatively high error rates," the authors conclude. "However, notifying patients of test results does not appear to be such a process; with appropriate within-practice systems, low rates of failure to inform should be possible."