Helicopter ambulance saves lives Apr 24, 2012
Insperformance.com, a Miami, Florida wholesale healthcare broker reminds consumers to check their healthcare insurance to insure they have helicopter and ambulance emergency medical coverage.
S.Sherlin, a licensed broker at Insurance Performance Agency reports that many policies do not cover for emergencies that may require helicopter or even ambulance transportation. This small print coverage could save your life. He recommends that consumers consider the possibility of experiencing a major catastrophe and the necessity of quick transport.
Transport by helicopter to a level I or II trauma center was associated with improved survival to hospital discharge compared with ground emergency medical services, according to a study that included data on more than 200,000 adult patients.
In background information for the article, which appears in the April 18 issue of JAMA, researchers noted that trauma remains the leading cause of death and disability among young people around the world. In the United States, more than 50 million people per year suffer traumatic injuries, resulting in 169,000 deaths a year and a lifetime cost of $406 billion.
The use of helicopter EMS and its possible effect on outcomes for traumatically injured patients has been the subject of debate, the authors noted. Adil H. Haider, MD, MPH, FACS, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues conducted a study to compare the association between the use of helicopter vs. ground EMS and survival among adults with traumatic injuries.
The study included 223,475 patients older than 15 who had an injury severity score that was defined as major trauma, having sustained blunt or penetrating trauma that required transport to U.S level I or II trauma centers. Of the study population, 61,909 patients were transported by helicopter and 161,566 by ground to trauma centers.
Unadjusted mortality was higher for those transported by helicopter (12.6%) than those by ground (11%); however, a higher proportion of both level I and level II patients transported by helicopter had higher injury severity scores. After further analyses and controlling for multiple known confounders, helicopter transport was associated with a 16% improved odds of survival compared with ground transport for patients transported to level I trauma centers (absolute risk reduction of 1.5%). For patients transported to level II trauma centers, helicopter transport was associated with a 15% improved odds of survival (absolute risk reduction of 1.4%).
"Thus, for patients transported to level I trauma centers by helicopter, 65 patients would need to be transported to save one life," the authors wrote. "For patients transported to level II trauma centers, the number needed to treat is 69."
Which aspect of helicopter transport is responsible for the mortality benefit in this highly stratified sample is unclear, the authors said. "Future studies should investigate specific components of helicopter EMS such as prehospital
New World diabetic guidelines Apr 24, 2012
Miami,Florida
insperformance.com reports that
after several years of planning and review, the American Diabetes Association and European Association for the Study of Diabetes have published new guidelines for managing hyperglycemia in people with type 2 diabetes.
The new guidelines are less prescriptive than those previously in place, and call for a more patient-centered approach that allows for individual patient needs, preferences and tolerances, and takes into account differences in age and disease progression, according to a joint statement.
The need for a combined task force was driven by the "increasingly complex and to some extent controversial" nature of glycemic management for type 2 diabetes, the "widening array of pharmacological agents now available, mounting concerns about their potential adverse effects and new uncertainties regarding the benefits of intensive glycemic control on macrovascular complications," according to the statement.
The guidelines call for providing all patients with diabetes education, in an individual or group setting, focusing on dietary intervention and the importance of increased physical activity, as well as weight management when appropriate. They encourage developing individualized treatment plans built around a patient’s specific symptoms, co-morbidities, age, weight, racial/ethnic/gender differences and lifestyles.
Having a more patient-centered focus better reflects the reality of what happens when a patient seeks diabetes treatment, said Vivian Fonseca, MD, president, Medicine & Science of the American Diabetes Association.
"The wide range of pharmacological choices, along with conflicting data about some of those choices, and differences in how patients respond to medications, makes it difficult to prescribe a single treatment regimen based on an algorithm that is designed to work for everyone," Fonseca said in a news release.
"What’s more, patients may not be able to continue long-term with a treatment program that isn’t working for them, whether it’s because of side effects from the medication, issues of convenience or lifestyle, or even a matter of financial resources. Diabetes is a complex disease that manifests differently in different people, and the best way for one person to manage it may not work for someone else.
"If we encourage people to work with their healthcare providers to find an individualized personal plan that works well for them and fits their lifestyle and personal needs, it has a higher chance for success in controlling glucose and decreasing the risk of long-term complications."
Is it a Medicine or Health crisis? Apr 21, 2012
Miami,Florida.
Insperformance.com reports that there is a drug affordability crisis in America. In 2011, 49.7 million adults did not fill a prescription due to high drug costs. Perhaps surprisingly, in addition to millions of uninsured Americans, many Americans with insurance forgo prescription medication due to cost. Such insured Americans, unable to cover necessary medical costs, including medication, are often referred to as the
underinsured. A previous study from 2004 by the
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reveals that 82.1% of those who restricted medication are due to costs were actually insured. The picture is clear; underinsurance is a major issue in the battle to afford prescribed medication.
The Affordable Healthcare For America Act will help millions of Americans, including with their drug bills – but it is not a cure-all. It is uncertain how the new regulations will affect drug pricing. With drug price negotiations and cost reducing drug importation measures excluded from the healthcare act, and with millions of insured Americans currently struggling to pay high drug costs, what is to say newly insured people will not struggle to afford or go without prescribed medications?
Throughout the year the PharmacyCheckerBlog is doing great work and you will be able to follow the research and predictions about drug affordability under the new law
Affordable Medicine Apr 21, 2012
steve@insperformance reports from Miami,Florida.
Access to safe and affordable pharmaceuticals should be a natural right for all Americans. Yet there are incredible price discrepancies between brand name and generic pharmaceuticals around the globe. On average, Americans pay twice as much for prescription medicine as people in other industrialized countries. Why? Because big pharmaceutical companies engage in underhanded tactics like
price fixing and
censorship. steve@insperformance reports from miami,Florida.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers have gone to great lengths to protect the
high prices of their products in America. RxRights has become increasingly aware of the price discrepancies of brand name and generic pharmaceuticals around the globe. Despite all of the benefits that the US scientific community, medical innovation and the world’s leading health care industry provides Americans, on average we pay twice as much for prescription medicine as most industrialized countries. For instance, pharmaceuticals in New Zealand can cost up to four times less than equivalent prescriptions in the US. Closer to home, Canadian pharmacies can offer the prescription drugs at prices up to 50 percent lower than their US counterparts
Florida residents access Mayo Clinic healthcare Jan 30, 2012
Miami,Florida
FLORIDA RESIDENTS ACCESS MAYO CLINIC EXPERTISE
Have you ever wanted to ask an expert about your medical care or perhaps do research on behalf of a loved one.Mayo Clinic now had a care network that can be accessed by consumers who are interested in the latest advancements in medical research.Much of which may be of interest to particular areas of a persons interest or ailment.
The Mayo Clinics network is a network of various organizations that share a common commitment to improving the delivery of health care in their communities through high quality data driven,evidence based medical care.
The network recognizes that people prefer to get heir health care close to home.
The main goal of the network is to help people gain the benefits of the Mayo Clinic without having to travel to a Mayo Clinic facility.
steve@ insperformance.com,Miami,Florida healthcare specialist, suggests anybody interested in advancing their knowledge of healthcare should log on to www.mayoclinic.org.
