How Healthcare Works, LLC

There are many pros and cons to living in multi-unit housing, but a definite con is having neighbors on the other side of the wall. Even though someone is not living in the same residence as you, second-hand smoke can travel through air vents and affect your health. As a smoker takes a puff of any kind of cigarette, the smoke is emitted into the air. Smoke travels through the air, even if the air is not moving. The reason is that smoke has a higher density than the sitting air. In the winter and summer time, furnace and air conditioning fans move air throughout the building more readily.  At times nonsmokers may notice their clothing or furniture smells of smoke, even though they do not smoke. This is because second-hand smoke travels through the air and enters the fibers of clothing of those who do not smoke. This is true of any kind of smoke, be it from a pipe, cigarettes or marijuana. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com Numerous studies have been conducted that demonstrat...

Yesterday, as I watched the live stream of the Women's March on C-SPAN, individuals called in voicing their reactions to the marchers and their thoughts regarding the march in general.  The calls that stuck with me were the ones that said (paraphrasing, of course) the following: "I don't see what these women are mad at about. They have freedom."  The truth is, that women have freedom, but they are not free. In their personal safety, women have freedom,  but they are not free.  Yesterday, as millions marched for women's rights, 1,871 women were raped in the United States.  As others marched, approximately 28,800 women (20 a minute) were the victims of domestic violence.  On the same day at least three of those women died due to domestic violence. In their healthcare, women have freedom, but they are not free. In 1873, the federal Comstock Law was passed.  The Comstock Law prevented the sale or the promotion of abortion or contraceptives. In 2016,...

Even more seasoned healthcare professionals focus more on the language interpretation and cultural aspects of health literacy rather than seeing the whole picture. Health.gov gives a rather extensive definition of health literacy. In simplest terms, health literacy is a patient's ability to receive information about their health and be able to apply that information to meet their health needs and to improve their health and well being. Although that sounds simple enough, it often is not. Even though studies have shown that using medical terminology does not assist in patient understanding of medical issues, clinicians continue to use complex medical terminology with patients.  Photo by Pineapple Supply Co. courtesy of Pexels.com That is the crux of the issue. Discussing medical issues with "me" at "my" level of understanding, as a patient, as a person, as an educated person. In order to do so, healthcare professionals first must take the time to determi...

Imagine you are waking up in the morning. It's so cold. It snowed overnight and you snuggle up under your covers.  You check your thermostat. 70 degrees. You put your warm slippers on over your socks and grab a cup of coffee.  Then, you get in the refrigerator and prepare your breakfast.  After breakfast, you take a nice hot shower, brush your teeth, put on your deodorant, blow dry your hair, and go through your closet of clothes looking for something warm to wear. Now, imagine you are homeless.  You wake up in the morning glad you made it through the night. No one attacked you or tried to steal what few belongings you had.  The ground beneath you is cold and hard, although you are grateful you found a blanket in the trash.  It's so cold out, you can see your breath.  Last night, it got down to 20 degrees, and you can barely feel your toes.  You set a goal for the day to make it to the public hospital and see if you have frostbite.  You ...

This time of year, there may be a lot of information, emails, news blasts, and media coverage regarding open enrollment.  Open enrollment is a time when individuals can sign up for new health insurance coverage or renew existing coverage.  Changes to policies may also be made, including adding or removing a family member.  The amount and type of coverage someone may want can also be modified.  Nonetheless, the open enrollment period may vary slightly depending on the type of coverage someone is seeking. Medicare open enrollment period is from October 15 to December 7 . During this time, individuals can change their Medicare coverage and prescription drug coverage.  At this point, if there are changes in their plans' annual coverage, Medicare participants should have been notified.  These changes may be listed in an Annual Notice of Coverage (ANOC) or an Evidence of Coverage (EOC). Individuals with questions may call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov...

According to the US Department of Agriculture, hunger is defined as "...a potential consequence of food insecurity that, because of prolonged, involuntary lack of food, results in discomfort, illness, weakness, or pain that goes beyond the usual uneasy sensation." Further, food security was defined ranging from high to very low food security.   Very low food security exists when there are multiple disruptions of eating patterns without food intake because of lack of available resources to obtain food. It should be noted that low food security exists when low variety exists.  This was formerly known as food insecurity without hunger. For example, a family unable to afford groceries or running out of groceries by the end of the week may have very low food security.  Families who may need to eat the same low budget meal repeatedly may have low food security. However, they are able to provide some type of nourishment. Low food security or very low food security is not a...

The first step in addressing the issue of mental health parity is to create awareness about issues that actually do happen. So many times in our society, we like to pretend something didn't happen, we like to say it isn't real, we like to live in our glass houses and say there is something wrong with the person complaining rather than addressing the real issue. That is why it is so important to educate others . Educating others provides them with more knowledge and information and may help them to change their beliefs. Many may have misconceptions or may be unaware of issues that happen every day around them. Why Should We Care About Mental Health Parity? Mental illness not only affects the individual with mental illness; it affects family, friends, neighbors, schools, classmates, and the community at large. Not only is the indvidual affected by mental illness, but everyone around them is affected as well. Issues arise when someone receives improper care for a men...