From the category archives:

Health care

25 Great Sites for Hospital Reviews

by admin on September 21, 2011

Healthcare isn’t cheap, and chances are it isn’t going to get much cheaper much sooner. With the most expensive part of healthcare easily being the hospital visit, it can cost even the insured patient tens of thousands of dollars in just one visit. With the doctors, labs, imaging facilities, and even the hospital itself sending in their very own bills, it makes more sense than ever to research as much as possible before choosing a hospital.

To help in the search for lower bills and better care, we have collected 25 great sites for hospital reviews. They are reviewed by everyone from internationally known publications and agencies to users and patients just like you. [click to continue…]

15 Q&A Sites About Healthcare

by admin on June 16, 2011

Learning about healthcare has become easy thanks to the web. If you’re looking for help on what questions to ask a doctor when you go in to an appointment or you’d like more information after being diagnosed with an illness, healthcare blogs and websites provide a bevy of knowledge for those looking to learn on their own. These blogs also cover the state of the healthcare industry in America and the trend we’re seeing in patient care.

  1. The Healthcare Blog This amazing blog will have you hooked. Whether you’re looking for tips on how to stay healthy or wondering just what’s going to happen to the healthcare system, it is packed with information on how to cut costs when coping with a terminal illness and the etiquette of healthcare professionals on social media sites.
  2. WSJ Health Blog The trusty Wall Street Journal has created this blog to keep you in the loop regarding healthcare news and major developments in the field. We love this healthcare blog because it talks about everyday health hazards (like cell phones), as well as information on new vaccines and filling prescriptions online.
  3. Science Based Medicine This blog examines the relationship between science, research and medicine. It talks about the healthcare system in terms of what can be done to be more effective without costing more (than it already does). This blog is a must-read for parents thinking about skipping vaccines because it goes into the history of vaccines and the fantastic strides that have been made to keep our society safe.
  4. Kevin MD Various doctors contribute to this site, giving you a taste of what it’s like to work in the healthcare industry today. From heartfelt stories to genuine concern to make things better for the millions of Americans walking around sans health insurance, this healthcare blog teaches you how doctors and nurses are doing their best to guide patients through a broken healthcare system.
  5. iHealthBeat At this blog, you’ll learn how technology is playing a major role in helping hospital staff and doctors’ offices work with and treat patients. Learn where the money is coming from to make these things happen and how small things like cell phones are making major changes for patients in remote areas.
  6. Reporting on Health This site boasts several healthcare blogs. Learn about health journalism, healthcare in overcrowded cities and developments that should help our healthcare system function more effectively for the masses. The doctors are candid in their blog posts, putting a face on the crisis going on in healthcare today.
  7. Fletcher Allen Blog This quaint blog is brought to you by a hospital in rural Virgina. It is loaded with health information on caring for yourself and your loved ones, plus what the hospital staff is doing to make patients comfortable. It is a great example of the humanity hospitals can portray by participating in social media to give clients an idea of what to expect from the staff.
  8. School Kids Healthcare Blog Paying attention to our nurses in schools is essential to fighting diseases and preventing epidemic outbreaks among our young. This blog talks about healthcare in schools and shows fellow school nurses how to cope with children suffering from ADHD, autism or the simple tummy ache.
  9. Healthcare Blog Law A healthcare lawyer writes this helpful blog that talks about the nitty, gritty details of healthcare law. It can be a touchy subject, but it’s important you know where you stand if you have a loved one that’s terminally ill. The goal is to have the government and healthcare community come together in a way that’s helpful for citizens and their well being.
  10. HealthBlawg At this blog you’ll find healthcare policy chatter. It also goes into studies on why patients stop taking med and what can be done about it. It’s all the healthcare news you can use wrapped up into a neat package that updated frequently.
  11. New America This blog examines healthcare in modern America. It tells you when policies are changing, what’s going before Congress and when to expect major changes. It also talks about controlling costs and making healthcare accessible for those struggling with addictions.
  12. Crossover Health This blog talks about insurance, healthcare policies and the slow process towards making prescription drugs affordable. Since many people take multiple pills, it’s important the discussion of cracking down on major drug companies is ongoing. Only if we’re talking about it can we bring change.
  13. Healthcare Technology Blog Healthcare technology is ever changing and this blog keeps you on the cusp of what’s happening. Learn how technology can play a role in changing our healthcare system for good, making it accessible and effective for everyone from doctors to patients.
  14. CDC For breaking healthcare news, including changes for vaccinations or outbreaks, hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. While there are several reliable sources on the web for healthcare news, checking the CDC site periodically will give you a roundup of any groundbreaking news you should be aware of.
  15. Healthcare Collaboration This is a great read for learning about healthcare news and how healthcare professionals are coping with change. The blogger also does book reviews on books about the healthcare system and focuses on healthcare reform. It’s important to read about a doctor’s experiences from within the system because it gives us a clear understand that ultimately, we all want the same thing for the state of the industry.

Learning about healthcare is crucial, since most of us will have to face the beast eventually. These blogs and websites teach you how to take care of yourself, how to deal with serious illness in your family, and what changes may be headed your way so the medical community can provide you with the best care. There’s no easy way to make things right overnight, but law makers are listening to the healthcare community to make changes that will put us all on the path to a healthier future.

The need for health care is expected to increase over the next two decades. Indeed, health care administrators will be in demand in order to help keep the system running as smoothly as possible. Having the right knowledge to be an effective administrator is essential. You should have an understanding of what’s happening with electronic health records, as well as understand health care regulatory laws, like HIPAA and the new health care reform law.

The Internet can be a great source of information that can be useful for health administrators. There are a number of resources online, from reputable sources, that can be used by health administrators as they perform their duties. Here are 25 great, reliable dot-edu resources of use:
[click to continue…]

Top 50 Health Insurance Blogs

by Linda on October 20, 2010

Health administration includes intimate knowledge of legal and policy matters, and both issues are included in health insurance. Even health insurance companies want you to know how intricate these laws and policies might be for consumers, as many companies and brokerages maintain blogs simply for educational purposes. This list of the top 50 health insurance blogs includes links to corporate and brokerage blogs as well as links to consumer-related information and industry blogs. [click to continue…]

If you are interested in health administration, there are few things as interesting as the health care reform law signed earlier this year. As a resource designed to help those interested in learning more about the new law, and the options available right now, the U.S. government created Healthcare.gov.

This web site offers a number of helpful tools and resources that can help you learn about the new health reform law, as well as help you live a healthier life right now. Health care administrators can use it as a resource, as well as ordinary folks, to learn about better health and care options. Here are 19 tools and resources bookmarking on Healthcare.gov:

Health Care Reform

If you are interested in learning more about health care, and your options under the new law, there are plenty of resources.

  1. Timeline: What’s Changing and When: One of the most useful tools on the Healthcare.gov site is an interactive timeline that illustrates the changes that came with the health care reform law. This interactive timeline allows you to see what has already changed, and when other changes are being made. Perfect for those interested in what’s coming next.
  2. About the Law: Health policy wonks will appreciate this page, which connects you to the full text of the health care reform bill, and helps you keep track of the changes. Also contains a helpful chronology of when different changes will take effect. Perfect for those who want to be informed from the source, rather than getting second hand information.
  3. Provisions: You can get a straightforward look at the main provisions in the health reform bill. Offers a look at early retiree coverage, pre-existing conditions, and all of the other provisions in the bill. Easy to navigate, and takes you through each of the major issues.
  4. In Focus: If you are interested in more information about what is available for rural Americans, and learning more about health disparities, this resource is extremely educational. Find out more about what health care reform should do for specific groups of people.
  5. Additional Health Initiatives: Overall health is expected to get a boost from health care reform. This page is worth bookmarking, since it contains additional information Medicare, community health centers and electronic records. A great resource for those interested in learning more about how they can control their own health care.
  6. Families with Children: This great resource offers information for families with children so that they can see how the new law will affect them. A helpful and interesting resource designed to break down the new law in a way that is understandable.
  7. Implementation Center: Learn more about what you can do to help implement health care reform. Perfect for health administrators and public health officials.

Health Insurance

If you are interested in care issues and health insurance, you can get help sorting through everything on Healthcare.gov.

  1. Find Insurance Options: This tool will help you find the type of health insurance that is best for you. Put in information about your family and your current situation, as well as your state, and get help finding the best plan for you.
  2. Compare Care Quality: Get more information about care quality in different areas, and link to a tool that can help you compare hospital care at various institutions. A great way to determine the level of care you are likely to get in certain hospitals.
  3. Individuals with Health Conditions: Get helpful information geared toward those with health conditions. Learn what the new law will do for you, as well as explore your health insurance options. Learn more about what you can do now, before the new law completely takes effect.
  4. Pregnant Women: Interested in learning more about health care options for pregnant women? This resource is perfect for those who want to know about insurance requirements and coverage for pregnancy.
  5. Coverage of Young Adults under Age 26: If you are younger than 26, or if you have children under 26, it is important to understand your health insurance options under the new law. Includes a handy link to an informative fact sheet.
  6. Patient’s Bill of Rights: You have certain rights when it comes to health care and coverage. The new law offers a number of helpful items for you. You can use this resource to learn more about your care rights as a patient. A great consumer resource.
  7. Appealing Health Plan Decisions: If you are not happy with your health plan, and the coverage decisions, you can actually appeal. This resource helps you know exactly what you need to do if something is not right with your health insurance coverage.

Health Resources

If you are looking for resources that can help you with healthy living, Healthcare.gov offers some great tools and informational resources.

  1. MyHealthFinder: You can link to this great tool from Healthcare.gov. It helps you assess your current state of health, and provides pointers and helpful hints on what you can do to improve your health.
  2. Preventative Care: Learn about the importance of preventative care to your health, as well as learn about what you can expect under health care reform in terms of improvements to your access to preventative care.
  3. HealthCare Notes: Learn more about what you can do to improve your health, as well as the health of those in your family. This resource offers helpful information on coverage, prevention and better living. Includes information on what you can do to help your kids live healthier.
  4. Webcasts and Videos: This resource offers you access to interesting videos and webcasts aimed at helping you learn more about healthy living, and how the health care reform law can help you achieve that goal. Engaging and interesting videos and webcasts about health issues that are important to you.
  5. Fact Sheets: Get access to definitive and authoritative information on health care reform, and the things you can do to improve your overall health and wellness. Includes fact sheets on what different racial groups can do, as well as what others can do. Also includes helpful information on state health exchanges and how they will affect you.

When you use social networking such as Twitter and Facebook, the very use of those tools implies that you want to connect socially with friends and business partners through social media platforms. But, how can you keep the worlds of business and socializing separate, especially if you work in the healthcare field? While these platforms can promote services as well as connect with patients, how far can healthcare workers take these platforms, and what do they need to know? [click to continue…]

No matter what you think about the latest healthcare reform (dubbed Obamacare), the fact is that things are starting to change in healthcare. We have amazing technology, and there are plenty of smart people out there with great ideas on how we can use technology to implement better healthcare for all. Indeed, if you are working in health administration, you will soon find that changes and innovations are coming. If you want to be up to date on some of the latest thinking with regard to healthcare, one of the best things you can do is to see what’s being said on the topics of public health and medicine at TED.

[click to continue…]

With the health care reform bill passed, many are now debating the merits of so-called “Obamacare.” The debate over care vs. cost continues, and many are looking for answers about what the health care reform bill will actually do. These questions are important for consumers, and they are also important for health care administrators. Now is a great time to get involved with health care, possible earning a Masters in Health Administration. With more people able to access health insurance and health services, the entire health industry is getting ready growth. [click to continue…]

One of the most heated debates going on right now has to do with health care. There is a great deal of consternation right now related to how health costs can be brought under control, while maintaining quality of health care. This becomes especially important as many Americans find their costs rising — to more per person than any other developed country. And, even with all of these costs, most rankings do not even place the U.S. in the top 30 countries in terms of its health care system.

As a result, the care vs. cost issues becomes even more important, since some are concerned that Americans pay a great deal for care that may not even be the best available. Many MHAs, politicians and activists are struggling with the question of how to balance care and costs. Here are 50 Web resources that can help you learn more about health care costs and care: [click to continue…]

As the health care debate continues in the U.S., both sides occasionally invoke the National Health Service (NHS) in Britain. The National Health Service was created in 1948, and meant as a program that allows those in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to have access to basic health care needs. Now more than 60 years old, the NHS is under review in an effort to attempt to improve the system. [click to continue…]