PREPARED PATIENT BLOG

Patients and experts explore what it takes to find good health care and make the most of it.

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Are You a DIY Traveler/Patient?

Dorothy Jeffress | July 30, 2010
Once upon a time, most people traveling outside the US depended on a travel agent and some were only comfortable when they were part of an organized tour. Finding top hotels or out of the way adventures was best left to experts. Travel guides available at bookstores, though often outdated, were gripped in sweaty hands, consulted like Bibles.

Keeping an Eye on Insurance Rate Hikes

Trudy Lieberman | July 29, 2010

Why Ask if You Won't Help Me

Dorothy Jeffress | July 28, 2010
In a recent iHealthBeat post, Steve Findlay talks about a provision in the new meaningful use rules for health information technology issued by DHSS. Findlay noted that nothing seems to have moved the needle on people completing advance directives. He expressed hope that this can now be rectified if hospitals embrace the optional (menu set) meaningful use objective that promotes recording the existence of an advance directive in a person's EHR. It's a start.

Who's Got My Back?

Jessie Gruman | July 27, 2010
Last week The New York Times published a front-page feature about how diagnosing breast cancer can be surprisingly difficult, prone to both outright error and case-by-case disagreement over whether a cluster of cells is benign or malignant.

Chicago Doctor Reveals Hidden Health Care Pricing'.

Trudy Lieberman | July 22, 2010

Watched, Loved and Now Desired by Millions

Dorothy Jeffress | July 20, 2010
If popular culture provides clues to social trends then all signs point to an American public captivated by red velvet, carrot, lemon, and raspberry. Fabric, fruits and vegetables? No cakes whether of the cup variety or fancy full-size versions.

Will I Do it for My DNA? Can Personalized Medicine Spark Healthier Behavior?

Jessie Gruman | July 15, 2010
The 10th Anniversary of the decoding of the human genome has prompted a whole new round of media coverage on progress toward 'personalized medicine i.e., approaches that use genetic information to prevent or treat disease in adults or their children. Not only will drugs be carefully tailored to our individual genetic profile, we will also be able to reduce risks and enhance our health by taking specific lifestyle-related actions that are determined by our unique constellation of DNA.

Paying to Participate

Goldie Pyka | July 14, 2010

What Happens When an Insurance Company Misbehaves

Trudy Lieberman | July 12, 2010

Sunshine Isn't So Bright After All

Sarah Jorgenson | July 9, 2010

Lead Us Not into Expectations

Jessie Gruman | July 6, 2010
Have you noticed that when health experts discuss the high cost of care, they often assert that our demands for more and more advanced -- care are driving the upward trajectory of its cost?

Obama and My Uncle Johnny

Kafi Grigsby | July 2, 2010

Resources to help people find good care and make the most of it.