August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety month. Ensure good vision through life.
The post Ensure Good Vision Through Life appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers
Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”
Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at the top right corner of this page
Tag Archives: Life
Avail Fast and Cheap Life Insurance With No Medical Exam
An insurance plan makes provision to financially protect your family at the instance of your unprecedented demise. People are conscious of this fact and may contemplate on many questions on the value quantity of cover they should provide on the basis analyzing a choice plan. They may have queries regarding type of policy to select from a variety of plans such as term plans, universal plans, whole plans and variable plans. They may also have questions about economy of costs of policies.
Apart from factors such as these that establish the quantity of coverage, permanent policy buyers have to give a medical exam to qualify for such coverage. This becomes an extra stress on the buyers when they are not sure of qualifying to be able to buy particular policy coverage for the safety of finances of their beneficiaries.
Anyways, buyers want to avoid such medical exam can opt to take a policy which does not need a medical exam. They can select such a policy from a selection of different plans from different providers that are also effective by cost to the buyer.
However, in the case where there is no medical exam the buyer may still have to answer some questions. This is a rule relating to basic requirements of state in which you reside to answer basic queries on general health of the buyer. The buyers may need to provide the birth year, their gender and if the buyer is in the habit of smoking tobacco during the past year.
You can answer these queries on your basic health in a form which may be either provided by the insuring agent or may be available online on the Internet. Then, the buyer becomes eligible to apply for a policy cover of five hundred thousand dollars.
You do not require the assistance of an agent if you buy online a policy that does not need medical exam. You can print your policy an own a policy instantly.
Individuals can buy such policies that do need a medical exam at a budget of $ 25,000 to $ 50,000, and for term periods between 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years. Sometimes a provider levies certain rules of age and health of the buyer. Therefore, policy coverage limits available to the buyer may depend on the terms of the providers. The importance of the availability of such plan coverage is that it essentially does not need you to qualify any medical exam and so you can quickly and easily buy a policy.
Denny is a Top Insurance Traffic Producer in the US. He drives traffic to top insurance carriers across the country. If you need any type of insurance or would like a free quote then get your Free Online Insurance Quote Today and check out our national insurance leaders Get Yours Now
Life Saver Guarantee – Medical Answering Services
There are times when accident hits one of your family or acquaintances and ends up injuring them. The situation gets worse when they became incapacitated and you are the only one that able to help them. That can be an easy pinch when you have a medical school background, but what if you don’t and it is late enough to hail a cab and bring your friend to the hospital? Then, one thing that you can do is to contact medical professionals that will assist you to help your downed family or acquaintances and prevent you to make things worse. That’s when you need to call medical answering service that can give you a way out for you and your family or acquaintances that are desperately in need of medical attention. One of the medical answering services is to give medical assistance such as dispatching unit immediately to your location.
The services also provide you with every medical response you need in case of emergency or in ordinary circumstances such as calling hospitals and doctors for an appointment. The services also provide a 24 hour-service-time that enables you to gain access to medical help whenever calamity and unlucky events that happened. You can rest assured knowing that you will be supported by medical staff that will respond to any emergency situation quickly and appropriately. The medical employees that will answer your call are well trained professionals, screened, and sensitive to the medical nature and importance of each incoming call. Each emergency call is thoroughly verified, and accurate messages is taken whether it’s regarding setting an appointment with your doctors and hospital, confirmation of an appointment to discuss about your disease and sickness, lab result for your blood and your vital signs, prescription dispatch, or handling and dispatching medical staff in respond to your emergency needs. They are very committed to give you medical help when something medically-bad occur to you or others’.
The other great thing from medical answering service is that they can suit your timely needs whether its 24 hour or just a simple on half-day daily basis needs. So whether you need a full-time protection or just and emergency precautions calls, the medical answering service is there to help. As a conclusion, please heed this one piece of advice: if sometimes accident happened to you, your family, or acquaintances whatever you do don’t do it in a state of panic, because now you know that there are medical answering services for you to look for.
This entry was posted on Call Answering Services
Related Medical Coding Articles
Save Your Life With A Key Sized Medical Device
Communication during a medical emergency, when you can not.
It is important to communicate during a medical emergency, and when you are not able speak for yourself. How will your doctor know your medical history in order to properly treat you. You need a convenient way to carry your emergency medical information with you at all times.
“In a medical emergency, you might be unconscious or unable to speak for yourself,” said Alfred Sacchetti, MD, of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). “That’s why it’s so important to make sure that medical personnel have access to your medical history, as well as relevant contact information. For example, knowing what medications you are taking could prevent severe drug interactions, and knowing what allergies you have could prevent serious reactions.”
Millions of Americans have medical conditions which should be immediately known to Emergency Personnel.
Diabetes (over 13 million), diagnosed heart disease (23 million), Alzheimers, transplant surgery, patient’s currently on blood thinners such as Coumadin, epilepsy, asthma, severe allergies, cancer patients and medication allergies such as penicillin and other antibiotics are all conditions that should be brought to the attention of emergency personnel. Additionally, many of us are reasonably health but getting older (36 million people age 65 and over) and our list of medications continue to grow with the years.
With over 110 million emergency room visits a year, your emergency information may actually be the most important information of your life. According to quoted studies from The Institute of Medicine an estimate of 44,000 to 98,000 hospitalized Americans die each year from errors made from medical practitioners, and 7,000 dies because of medication mishaps.
Who needs to keep their emergency information available and updated?
Actually, all of us should but very few do. However for those at risk, such as seniors, people with chronic illness, serious allergies or medication complications, special needs children and anyone traveling away from home it is something that should not be overlooked. Children should also have the proper medical information on them at all times if they have a medical condition or serious allergy.
What information should be maintained?
Here are just some of the things recommended by Edward Stettner, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University Atlanta, GA and other healthcare professionals.
* Medical history – Chronic medical conditions
* Medications -Including over-the-counter
* Allergies -Medications and foods
* Surgical history -Include the date, hospital and surgeon
* Private physician -Include primary care as well as specialists
* Emergency contacts -Multiple contacts with alternate numbers
* Miscellaneous -Include advance directives, specific dietary needs, or any other important information.
What are your options to carry your medical information?
There are many generic medical ID bracelets and jewelry tags available today, however they are generally limited by their size to the amount of information that can be displayed on them and because of their small size, they are sometimes overlooked by emergency personnel during a crisis. The wallet cards some provide are also limited by their small size and often become unreadable in a very short time. While they can alert medics that you have special medical needs, they can not convey all your important emergency information during a crisis, when it is needed most.
So how do you carry all that information around with you?
Digital technology allows a very large amount of information to be stored on surprisingly small devices. MedicTag LLC has adapted this technology to produce an emergency information device that fits on a key ring. The device is simple to use and works with your desktop or laptop computer. You can fill out the information form and make changes whenever necessary, always keeping your emergency information up to date. Emergency responders on site with a laptop or at the emergency room can have instant access to your vital information, even if you are unconscious, allowing them to diagnose and properly treat you with as little delay as possible.
Do you need to have your emergency information available?
For most of us the answer is probably yes. If not you, how about a child, parent or other loved one in your family? Considering the possible life saving benefits, it is something that we should seriously consider, for safety and security that affects the whole family.
Medical Alarms Can Save Your Life
There is a reason why we call emergencies by that name, they are impossible to predict and can happen in any place at any instance and can put us in grave danger. We can be as careful as possible, even be teeter in the brink of paranoia but there is no absolute way we can be ready for emergencies. The best recourse is to always have a way to alert someone of an attack when we experience them. You may have a mobile phone but can you really make a call when a seizure is rocking every muscle of your body? There are a many medical alarms that can keep us safe and alert our the monitoring companies with a simple touch of a button. Their value is not only found when we use them, but also in the assurance that we always can.
The pieces of electronics are essential. They ensure that we have a way to alert people when we encounter an accident that does not let us use conventional modes of communication. Medical alert systems are very effective because they reduce the time that we lay there without proper medical attention. These devices take on a whole new meaning if you have a recurring ailment or a health condition that can attack at any time. From hypertension that can lead to a stroke to epileptic attacks that can strike at any moment, having a system to alert people to your attack can be the difference between life and death. For the disabled or the elderly who live alone, the dangers of ailments can be a real threat and constant fear.
So if you have a condition or are well into your retirement years or simply want to make sure that in your home or office, you are never far away from medical attention, get these alarms. They are usually in the form of a medical alarm bracelet that are simple and easy to wear. They are highly advanced systems that monitor key vital signs and make sure that you get help when you need it. Get them for friends and relatives and give the gift of health to your loved ones. Medical emergencies can happen at any time and if we are alone, there can be no one else to turn to or help us. Life is our greatest gift and prolonging it as much as we can is the best thing we can do to repay that gift.
Looking to get yourself an a medical alarm? Visit medicalalarmstoday.com for medical alarm reviews and a comprehensive guide to personal medical alrms before making your purchase.
Find More Medical Coding Articles
A Day In The Life Of A Medical Transcriptionist
Medical transcription is a daunting task. The profession entails intensive knowledge on medicine, surgery, and health sciences, as well as mastery of grammar and language. Collectively, the job is a blend of science and linguistics.
Aside from the technical requirements in the profession, a medical transcriptionist must also possess good listening abilities and speedy typing skills. A sharp memory is also essential in carrying out a transcription job. In addition, one must be updated in the current trends of medicine and health sciences. This enables a medical transcriptionist to be more familiar in complex terms and concepts in anatomy and surgery.
The job of a medical transcriptionist begins when a doctor sends a record of diagnosis and prescription after a patients check-up. This is directed to the transcription service office through a central server connecting the computer network of hospital offices. The medical transcriptionist acquires the audio file and saves it to a personal computer unit.
The primary duty of a medical transcriptionist is to convert this audio report into a digital text format. The medical transcriptionist listens to this file through a transcriber. A transcriber is a large recording machine with foot controls for audio playback. Technically, the medical transcriptionist uses the feet for audio playback on the transcriber; one uses the hands for encoding in computer word processors. Medical transcriptionists utilize this technique in making electronic medical records.
The transcribed document, known as a report, is stored in a database server which is accessible in selected computer networks. When a patient comes back for a follow-up check-up, the doctor acquires all electronic medical records. When technical glitches occur in the database server, the doctor requests the report from the medical transcriptionist. The medical transcriptionist sends it to the doctor through a private electronic mailing system or a personal delivery.
When a doctor uses a Continuous Speech Recognition (CSR) device, the medical transcriptionist simply reviews the word document and notes inconsistencies in the medical report. A transcriptionist is not allowed to alter contents in electronic medical records. Mistakes and inconsistencies in reports are marked as flagged. Documents with flagged remarks are given back to a doctor for assessment and correction. The quality of a medical transcriptionists job can be measured based on the accuracy of the reports in a hospitals archive of medical history, which is noted by doctors and medical professionals.
Come see what were all about and visit us at www.MedicalBilling4U.com.
A Medical Alert Necklace Could Save Your Life
Many people have medical conditions that could have a profound effect in life or death situations. Without proper notification, emergency responders may not know about these conditions. If a person is treated incorrectly during a medical emergency, this could cost them their lives. If you have one of these specific medical conditions, it is absolutely vital that you make sure that first responders are aware of this.
You may be thinking that you would simply be able to tell the paramedics about your condition. However, in most medical emergency instances, the patient will not be able to respond to questions from the first responders. If you are unconscious or you have been injured, you may not be able to respond at all. In these cases, it is vital that you have a way to alert paramedics to the medical conditions you may have.
This is where a medical alert necklace comes into play. These simple, yet vital necklaces can be the difference between life and death for you. There are numerous medical conditions that a first responder would need to know about. While any of these could be included on medical alert necklaces, here is one example of how they could save your life.
Let’s for a moment, consider if you have a heart condition for which you take several medications. If you were to become incapacitated with the heart condition, medical responders would be able to appropriately handle and treat your condition. In addition, if there are certain medications that you take for your condition, the medical team would be more aware of this, and they could avoid giving you any sort of medication that could have a negative effect on you.
Medical alert necklaces can be helpful in letting medical professionals know about a wide variety of conditions that a person may suffer. Without these vital notifying pieces, a wrong medication could be administered or a wrong diagnosis could be made. Whether you have diabetes, a specific allergy, a heart condition, ADD, or any condition that needs to be noticed, you can find a medical alert necklace could be the item that saves your life.
When first responders and paramedics come upon an emergency medical situation, there is one thing they will immediately do if the patient is unresponsive. They will look for any medical alert necklaces or bracelets so that they will know what to treat and what to look for when diagnosing. If you are wearing one of these necklaces, this could mean the difference between being properly treated or not. If you do not wear one of these necklaces, you could be putting your life in danger.
When it comes to medical conditions that can affect diagnosis and treatment of a patient, a medical alert necklace can save lives. If you have one of these medical conditions, choosing the right necklace and wearing it at all times is vital. Do not take your life for granted. Make sure that your condition can be properly treated if an emergency were to arise.
Medical Alert Necklace Info provides detailed information on everything you need to know before you purchase a medical alert necklace. Learn more on why medical alert necklaces can save your life in case of an emergency. But also discover some of the important aspects you should think about before choosing a necklace. To learn more visit my Medical Alert Necklace Review.
CMS report focuses on AOs’ life safety short-comings
The annual CMS evaluation of accreditation organizations (AO) is out and in the hands of Congress. CMS thinks all the AOs aren’t doing as well as they should in catching violations and is promising Congress that it’s actively working to change that.
Medical Tourism – Could Medical Tourism Save Your Life?
A growing number of people worldwide are seriously considering a new phenomenon called “Medical Tourism” as an answer to high cost and/or unavailable health care. Others who have already used medical tourism are praising it as a terrific solution to an ongoing problem.
If you don’t live in the US, you may still have some interest in medical tourism-perhaps your health care provider doesn’t cover a procedure you want, or maybe the wait for the procedure is too long. For those people worldwide without health insurance, and with limited access to the health care system, going to another country for a medical procedure could literally save your life.
The cost of medical care here in the United States is high and going higher. However, the World Health Organization ranks the US health care system as #37 in the world. We are behind nearly all Europeans nations, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica.
So, you might survive your medical condition and treatment. But will you survive financially when the medical bills arrive at your door?
For a growing list of reasons, Medical Tourism is an idea whose time has come.
There are two prominent resources for Medical Tourism:
Planet Hospital
PlanetHospital began in 2002 as a coordinator of overseas health care for the uninsured desiring to travel abroad because they could not obtain or could not afford health care in the US or their respective country. Over time, as news of medical tourism spread, carriers, employers and self-insured groups began to ask PlanetHospital to explore ways that would allow PlanetHospital to solve their skyrocketing health care cost problem. Consequently, while maintaining their commitment to individual self payers, they expanded into health care solutions. As a result, over the past two years, PlanetHospital has developed several products for the marketplace. Most of their products center around four critical needs:
1. Self insured companies and their related partners (such as Stop Loss agencies, TPAs, and MGUs)
2. Uninsured and underinsured individuals
3. Healthcare plans that need to control expenses
4. Immigrants and guest workers who need affordable healthcare while working in the US.
I strongly urge you to spend some time touring their website at: www.planethospital.com
HealthCare Tourism International
HealthCare Trip, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit service of HealthCare Tourism International, was started on April 1, 2006 as a portal and service that connects all people interested in healthcare abroad with safe and effective information and accreditation. In addition, they do not have any financial partnerships or arrangements with for-profit healthcare tourism operators, hospitals, or providers, so that they may maintain a non-partisan approach to safe healthcare services abroad. HCTI is the world’s first 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization specifically for health travel safety.
Visit their website at: www.healthcaretrip.org
Medical Tourism includes many of the following specialties in Medicine.
Alternative Medicine
There are many treatment procedures with long histories of success that are not approved and available in the US. For example, German cancer specialists have alternative treatments that are much more successful than traditional American procedures. Other alternative medicine is found in heart disease, for example.
Nursing Home/Long Term Care
In order for Medicare to pay for nursing home care, one must be basically broke (under $ 2500 in assets). If you do not have Long Term Care insurance, the monthly costs can easily run between $ 3,000 and $ 5,000. In other countries, high quality nursing care can be found for less than $ 50 a day.
Dental
Some of the most popular and widely-used medical procedures are dental procedures. With only half the US population covered by dental insurance, Americans are streaming overseas for high quality, low cost dental care. Medicare does not cover dental work, and elderly people have elderly teeth that require more care than the young.
In certain areas of Prague, Budapest, Bangkok and Tijuana, streets are lined with dental clinics. The savings the patients realize can more than compensate for their travel costs. Teeth caps that range from $ 750 to $ 1,000 in the U.S. cost $ 150 in Mexico. In Budapest, a top-quality crown costs $ 780, compared with $ 1,200 to $ 2,000 in the United States. In Great Britain the average cost of an implant is $ 3,500, but in Budapest you can get it done for $ 1,000.
What about the quality of the work? According to the non-profit group Healthcare Tourism International, their surveys of patients found high levels of satisfaction. But that should come as no surprise. A spokesman from the New York University College of Dentistry states that they bring in over 100 dentists a year from 33 countries, train them in advanced procedures, and send them home.
In March 2008, FOX News reporter Lori Lundin blogged about her husband’s dental excursion to El Salvador. The quote they got in the US for the dental work he need was $ 60,000. They had the work done in a world-class Salvadoran facility for about $ 19,000. He had the procedures done and experienced no pain, plus they had a tropical vacation while they were there. Lundin figured that the total cost including travel expenses and lodging was $ 30,000.
Cosmetic Surgery
Tummy tuck, Breast Augmentation/Reduction, facial, liposuction, butt/thigh lifts and other cosmetic procedures can be done through Medical Tourism.
Conventional Treatment
Medical procedures include:
Fertility
Orthopedic Surgery
Heart Surgery
Bariatric
Cancer/Radiation
Eye and vision
Gynecological
Lung procedures
…and many others
Pharmaceutical purchases
Pharmaceuticals outside the US cost a small fraction of US prices. For the most part, the manufacturer is the same as you would find in an American pharmacy. Countries like India, Brazil and Thailand have huge generic pharmaceutical industries, and many of their companies are importing product into the US. Patients can save hundreds per year by buying drugs outside the US.
Travel benefits
One of the other benefits to medical tourism is that, depending on how long you stay for your medical procedures, you may be able to take in the sights while you are being treated. Imagine yourself on a Costa Rican beach while you wait for your dental work to be completed! Picture yourself attending the Prague Symphony while you are in the city for your medical treatment. Wonderful!
Caveat Emptor
As with any major purchase, you should do extensive research before you spend your money. Do not trust ANYONE just because the letters “MD” are tacked onto his name, or because he’s wearing a white lab coat. Spend the time necessary to thoroughly investigate any medical provider. Then, make an informed decision.
Medical Tourism can be a tremendous money saver for you, and can provide you with world class medical treatment and a memorable vacation. Good luck and good health!
Copyright 2009 by Russell D. Longcore
Medical Software Must-Haves Based on Practice Life Cycle
What Software Does Your Medical Practice Really Need?
With an abundance of medical software now available, choosing the right one for your practice can seem nearly impossible. From billing software to patient portals and electronic health records (EHRs), there are hundreds of options, price points, and features to consider.
Thankfully, the team over at Software Advice, a leading software and technology research company, is aware of the health IT investment challenges that many small practices face — like restrictive budgets and limited IT support staff. They have been busy collecting and analyzing data on this topic and have pulled it all together in their Medical Software Needs Cycle Guide. The guide details the health IT that is worth investing in, broken down into three phases based on the life cycle of the practice — those just starting out, those growing their practice, and those seeking optimization.
Key Insights
- Practices just starting out should focus on patient scheduling, EHRs, and billing software.
- Practices in the growth phase should invest in tablet integration as well as patient portal and telemedicine platforms.
- Practices seeking optimization should look for software that supports direct messaging, speech recognition, and patient relationship management.
NEEDS CYCLE FOR SMALL MEDICAL PRACTICES
Phase 1: Starting Out
This initial phase of the guide identifies the software needs of small practices who are just opening and need to establish basic day-to-day functionality. The focus in on patient scheduling, EHRs, and billing software.
Patient Scheduling
- Patient scheduling tops the list for newly opened practices because handwritten appointment logs are virtually obsolete and dedicated patient scheduling software allows you to capture data above and beyond patient name and appointment time.
- Ninety-one percent of solo physicians in the market for software are seeking a patient scheduling system.
EHRs
- EHRs are — for all intents and purposes — a mandatory investment for practices.
- In addition to the financial incentives introduced under the HITECH Act, a fully-functioning EHR can improve access to patient data and coordination of care.
- Of the solo physicians in the market for software, 80 percent are seeking an EHR.
Billing
- It’s critical that new practices have billing software in place in order to get revenues flowing right away.
- As an alternative, practices who choose to outsource billing do not need to invest in billing software.
- Seventy-six percent of solo physicians in the market for software are researching billing systems.
Phase 2: Growth
This phase is ideal for practices who have established their basic systems but are now seeking ways to save time and money and spur practice growth. The focus here is on tablet integration as well as patient portal and telemedicine.
Tablet Integration
- Physicians are on the go and tablets mean that patient records or medical research can be accessed without being tied to a desktop.
- Opting for a tablet instead of a desktop can save up to six minutes per patient.
- To remain HIPAA-compliant, encryption technology is a must.
Patient Portal
- Patient portals create a more seamless patient experience by providing options such as secure messaging as well as online bill pay and appointment scheduling.
- Fewer incoming phone calls means that staff can refocus their energies on more pertinent tasks.
MOST REQUESTED PATIENT PORTAL FEATURES
Telemedicine
- Although telemedicine is still a relatively new service, physicians are expected to begin investing in it more heavily over the new five years, growing the market from $ 18.2 billion in 2016 to $ 38 billion by 2022.
- Video consultations can simultaneously expand a physician’s patient panel while also delivering cost-saving care for non-emergency conditions like cold and flu symptoms.
- More than 75 percent of patients are at least moderately interested in telemedicine services.
Phase 3: Optimization
The final phase is for well-established practices who are interested in using technology to optimize their workflows and maintain patient relationships. The software needs should focus on direct messaging, speech recognition, and relationship management.
Direct Messaging
- Direct messaging allows physicians to share information with patients and colleagues in a timely manner.
- It offers convenience and cost savings for practices. And since it’s designed with layers of encryption and authentication, security worries are minimized
Speech Recognition
- Speech recognition software can save practices both time and money on dictation and transcription expenses.
- When the software is integrated with a practice’s EHR, physicians are able to dictate directly into the patient’s medical record.
- Many software programs provide a mobile app, allowing physicians to document clinical notes from virtually anywhere and potentially decreasing feelings of burnout as well.
TOP CAUSES OF PHYSICIAN BURNOUT
Patient Relationship Management
- Physicians aim to not only keep patients healthy but also happy and engaged.
- Relationship management software helps practices retain and attract patients by disseminating information via newsletters, gauging patient satisfaction or interest in new services via surveys, and managing the practice’s social media presence.
More Tools and Downloads
For practices who are still struggling with where to invest their health IT dollars, Software Advice has created a free questionnaire designed to identify the software products that meet your needs and budget.
They also have tons of additional software purchasing tips as well as free resources and guides available for download. Be sure to check those out when you head on over to their site to read the complete Medical Software Needs Cycle Guide.
What other software should small practices consider investing in? Please tell me in the comments below.
— This post Medical Software Must-Haves Based on Practice Life Cycle was written by Manny Oliverez and first appeared on Capture Billing. Capture Billing is a medical billing company helping medical practices get their insurance claims paid faster, easier and with less stress allowing doctors to focus on their patients.