Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Security Health Plan Expands Advocare Service Area

Security Health Plan will begin to market a line of Medicare Advantage Plans under the name Advocare throughout South Central Wisconsin.  Security Health Plan is owned by the Marshfield Medical Clinic Group.  Security Health Plan is located on 1515 N. Joseph Ave, (PO Box 8000) Marshfield, WI 54449-1343.  This is a private organization experienced in managing care since 1987.

A licensed insurance agent is required to sell the Medicare Advantage Plans in Wisconsin.  Advocare will market different plans with varied benefit under the Medicare Advantage Plan category.  Variations in offered plans can include the amount of monthly premium (in addition to the Medicare Part B premium),  and the amount of copayments on selected care needs.

Seniors will need to determine if their existing health care providers are contracted with the Advocare Insurance (Plan) product to receive reimbursement for medical services.  This means will the Advocare plan pay the bill when you go in to see your current health care providers. 

With an Advocare product that includes Medicare Part D drug coverage you will want to compare your list of medications with the current formulary.  Next to each drug you take record the tier it can be found on the Advocare approved formulary which will give you the copay you will be required to submit when filling a prescription. 

You will want to know if your pharmacy is contracted with this Advocare plan so a portion of your medications will be covered.  When a pharmacy can be paid by your plan for the medication you need, it will be identified as being in network. 

Seniors will want to review their annual health care utilization to determine how the chosen plan will help them manage risk.  How will the plan facilitate the needed clinical services while maintaining tolerant out of pocket limits on medical expenses.  Does the chosen plan maintain required access to needed health care providers while retaining money for the over all household. Simply list the benefits you will experience by purchasing this health insurance product.

The Marshfield Medical Clinic Group and Security Health Plan of Wisconsin Incorporated have a long history of providing excellent service to the Wisconsin community.  This Medicare Advantage Plan line should be a great addition to the options available to Wisconsin seniors.

Home Care Path is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention and transtional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-down sizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicate face to face on the computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com  We accept long term care insurance.  We can be there when you are working.  Services are tax deductible.  Valuing home and human life.

Monday, August 27, 2012

The Infrared Noncontact Thermometer A Magic Wand

You see them in the (ICU) intensive care unit of a hospital.  Providers wave the magic wand from the persons left ear up across the forehead over to the right ear without touching any skin or clothing.  This is an infrared noncontact thermometer. 

Infrared noncontact thermometers have been proven accurate when used properly.  This is important as the increase/decrease of body temperature is a well used means for monitoring the acute disease process.

With the infrared noncontact thermometer there is no need to touch the persons body to get the desired  (an accurate temperature) data.  The patient no longer experiences the uncomfortable use of a body cavity.  The body temperature value is displayed quickly. 

With zero contamination risk the provider can immediately start again to scan the temperature of another person.  The lens is wiped clean about every two weeks.   Resembles a magic wand.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention with transitonal counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-communicating face to face on the computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com  We accept long term care insurance.  We can be there when you are working.  Services are tax deductible.  Valuing home and human life. 

Friday, August 24, 2012

How Can Super Bug National Institutes Of Health Fit In To The Current Health Care System

The National Institutes Of Health at 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda Maryland 20892 is the world's most respected medical research center.   Country wide medical policy flows from this facility.   This organization rigorously attends to medical regulations which have been authorized to keep patients safe. 

In late August 2012 the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center explained their existing medical policies were not sufficient to keep the patient population safe.  The worlds most respected medical research facility discovered that despite staff following proper procedure patients continued to get hospital acquired infection. 

A big part of this is that germs (bacteria), are living things that evolve and change.  Germs can change in a way that makes the drugs we use to stop them , no longer effective.  This multi drug resistant germ is called Klebsiella Pneumoniae.  Klebsiella Pneumoniae effectively spread through the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center patient population causing undesired outcomes.

The National Human Genome Research Center used DNA screening and genetic sequencing which revealed a minute difference in the DNA of the germ (bacteria) over a week.  The infection outbreak was related to the single patient infected with Klebsiella Pneumoniae.

Infection control recognizing a crisis established a closely monitored secure model of practice.  The diseinfectant and cleaning of equipment was not stopping the germ.   Patients testing positive for the germ Klebsiella Pneumoniae were temporarily housed in a seperate part of the hospital.  Little or no outside access.  Each patient had their own set of equipment staff would use.  No equipment was used on 2 separate patients.  No communication (cell phone carry germ patient to patient) devices were carried on staff on this special wing.  Thankfully the infection was brought under control. 

The larger question is how does the worlds best medical hospital being unable to effectively control hospital acquired infection fit in to the medicare mandate of no reimubursement for conditions and infections resulting from a hospital stay.  This is a medical facility that lives and breathes regulations designed to completely prevent hospital acquired infections.  Simply, what happened in this setting could occur in any hospital in the United States. 

Medicare is no longer a valid pay source for the medical expenses that cover the labor and supplies hospitals have needed to treat these patients who acquired an infection in the hospital.   Typically private health plans mirror Medicare regulations and will refuse to reimburse hospitals. 

When you remove the pay source, the propensity for litigation increases.  How is today's health care system looking at this specific hospital outbreak to define policy that will help all involved share the risk. 

Home Care Path is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention and transitional counseling
-temporary help with scheduled day surgery
-down sizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicate face to face on computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com We accept long term care insurance.  We can be there when you are working.  Services are tax deductible.  valuing home and human life. 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Enzalutamide Hopeful Prostate Cancer Drug

On August 15, 2012 The New England Journal of Medicine published favorable results from the Enzalutamide NCT0097431 Study.  The clinical trial was funded by Medivation Inc. (sponsor) and Astellas Pharma (collaborator) Global Development.  The United States National Institute of Health provides the clinical trial over sight.

Study design (late stage cancer) can be beneficial for facilitating approval with the (FDA) Food and Drug Administration process for securing a marketable avenue.  People in the study had received a series of chemo with docetaxel, and despite castration the undesirable cells continued to multiply (progressive).  Castration reduces the flow of testosterone. 

The tumor (undesired cells) acts to increase the number of receptors to facilitate the connections needed to continue growing.   So, despite the chemo and castration acting to reduce the available androgen, having more receptors helps the tumor use a larger amount of the smaller quantity now avaliable.   When tumor growth continues after chemo and castration the medical system will note a failed trial of traditional hormone therapy and chemo.  This is where Enzalutamide appears to help disassemble the process for tumor production.

Enzalutamide disrupts necessary connections in the androgen (hormone) development pathway.  Prostate cancer growth  (progressive) is dependent upon the connections in the androgen pathway for functional expansion.  Disrupting this needed path for expansion translates to prolonged human survival. 

The clinical trial found Enzalutamide significantly prolonged the survival of men with metastic castration resistant prostate cancer.  The drug Enzalutamide appears to help men with prostate cancer live longer. 

The side effects of the drug report 5 of 800 men experienced seizure like activity.    Hot flashes, fatigue and diarrhea were also noted.  Home Care Path encourages family's to follow the progression of the drug Enzalutamide through the Food and Drug Administration's approval process.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention with transitional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-down sizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicate face to face on the computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com  We accept long term care insurance.  We can be there when you are working.  Services are tax deductible.  Valuing home and human life.



Monday, August 20, 2012

West Nile Virus Flavivirus Mosquito

The west nile virus (flavivirus) was a virus first known west of the nile river.  West nile virus is given to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.  Mosquitoes pick up the virus feeding on infected birds. 

Symptoms will start to show 3 to 14 days after the person was bitten by an infected mosquito.  Some persons display no symptoms and have a bit of a tolerance.  Some will show mild symptoms that include fever, rashing, head ache, body ache and some nausea.  More severe symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, head ache, vomiting, extreme weakness, shakey, disorientation, loss of feeling. 

Milder symptoms are usually managed at home with over the counters and some rest.  With severe symptoms a person can go to the hospital and receive intravenous fluids, respiratory and nutritional support. 

Prevention means do not pick up dead birds and avoid mosquitoes.  If you must be out and exposed to mosquitoes use a repellant spray with EPA registered active ingredients.  Discuss any concerns with your primary medical doctor.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention and transitional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-down sizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicate face to face on the computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com  We accept long term care insurance.  We can be there when you are working.  Services are tax deductible.  Valuing home and human life.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Whooping Cough Pertussis Respiratory

Whooping cough (pertussis) is bacteria in the respiratory tract. The bacteria is bordetella pertussis (the infectious agent).  Whooping cough includes inflamed mucous membranes of the nose and throat.  This progressively develops to establish the disease process and the symptom whooping cough is heard.

What began as an irritating cough evolves in to short, frequent, bunches of coughs in a row with no time to breath in between.   At the end of the series of coughs the person inhales through and inflamed, narrowed airway causing the crow like whoop. 

At the end of the violent coughing bout, the person may spit out some mucous that came up.  People are believed to be the only (reservoir) host.  Whooping cough is transmitted through direct contact with discharge from respiratory musous membranes of an infected human by airborne droplets.

Whooping cough is contagious even before the coughs begin to show.   In July of 2011 GlaxoSmithKline received FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval for Boostrix (GSK) to help prevent whooping cough in adults 65 years of age and older.  Seniors are encouraged to discuss their concerns regarding whooping cough with their primary physician.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's 
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention with transitional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-down sizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicate face to face on the computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com We accpt long term care insurance.  We can be there when you are working.  Services are tax deductible.  Valuing home and human life.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Seniors Report Post Office Has New Padded Envelopes For Shipping

Our seniors who sell items on line through auctions have reported the United States Postal Service has introduced new envelopes.  The envelopes are lined with bubble (light weight) padding which provides extra protection with transport. 

The envelopes are free and used exclusively through the USPS to send for one low flat rate to any State address in the United States.  Their are two types of envelopes.  One for Priority Mail which provides a 2-3 day delivery.  Second is the Express Mail which provides an overnight delivery. 

The upgrade is the addition of the padding at no extra cost.  This will be beneficial for in home staff who assist seniors with packing and shipping gifts during the holidays. 

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention with transitional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-down sizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicate face to face on computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com We can be there when you are working.  We accept long term care insurance.  Valuing home and human life.  Services are tax deductible.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Local Hospitals Mimic Hotel Industry To Better Compete For Consumer Dollars

Local hospitals have begun to see the value in seeing the patients more as a consumer.  Patients today have a choice of where they will get their health care needs filled.  Hospitals have responded by incorporating strategies from the hotel motel industry. 

Gone are the hard stone floors with plain walls loaded with medical staff notes.  Todays hospital room has a rich hard wood floor.  Art adorns the walls.  Bedding and cabinets match the decor.  No paper notes hang in the room.

The meals are now ordered from a menu.  Dietary is happy to adjust and assemble a dinner the consumer is most likely to eat with their stay. 

Rooms are private (only one consumer per room) and staff are instructed to perform their duties as quietly as possble.  Managing noise and disruption to improve the stay. 

Back home, a thank you card with a hand written note arrives from the staff.   It has been a pleasure to serve you, please come back again.

Local hospitals are evolving service to best capture the public and private funding available with the delivery of the surrounding populations care.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-in patient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention and transitional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-downsizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicating face to face on computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule and in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com We accept long term care insurance.  We can be there when you are working.  Services are tax deductible.  Valuing home and human life.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Joint Bank Account To Avoid Probate

An accepted banking industry strategy is for elders to create bank accounts with a child.  This is to maintain access to needed funds and avoid the probate process.  The expectation is the elder will die first giving the child instant access to the money in the account to pay bills.

Why do family's want to avoid the probate process?  Several reasons:

1. A death has just occurred and family can expect to be off balance with the greif process.  Probate involves intrusion by court, lawyers, and the public.

2. All of the will and supporting documentation becomes public knowledge.

3. The added expense of legal representation.

4. Longer time before the actual distribution of assets.

5. The process may involve reliving some emotional experiences which can disrupt the greiving process and stall closure for the family.

Typically the account will belong to the elder who deposits the funds.  Ownership of the account is not transferred to the surviving child until the death of the of the (depositor) elder.

Home Care Path encourages family's to meet with an independent estate planner before making any changes to a seniors banking practices.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention and transitional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-downsizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicating face to face on the computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule and in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour. Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com  We can be there when you are working.  We accept long term care insurance.  Valuing home and human life.  Services are tax deductible.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Wisconsin Business Leveraging Service To Meet Increased Need Affordable Care Act Delivers

The one thing Wisconsin business can agree on, is the Affordable Care Act will supply health care providers with more people to serve.  The health care system will have more people with a valid pay source.   This translates to an enhanced national market for medical diagnostics.

Health care providers will need technology that can increase the accuracy and the speed of the service being delivered.  Health care providers are in the market for medical equipment that can help with the safe, efficient provision of care to more consumers.

Bjorksten bit 7 of Madison Wisconsin and Granite MEDS Systems of Mequon Wisconsin formerly announced a collaborative agreement to meet this increased need.   Bjorksten bit 7 is an organization specializing in research, development and engineering of medical devices.  Granite MEDS Systems is a facility with the most up to date assemblage capability. 

The program facilitates a comprehensive service dedicated to placing operational diagnostic equipment in the health care delvery setting.  The private sector adds value to a business model to capture public revenue.  Innovative Wisconsin business organizations proactively positioning for regulatory changes. 

Home Care Path is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention with transitional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-down sizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicate face to face on computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com   We can be there when you are working.  We accept long term care insurance.  Valuing home and human life.  Services are tax deductible.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Interprofessional Health Care Team The Structure Of Population Management

With the implementation of the health care services related to the affordable care act Wisconsin can expect a team approach.  Health insurance companies will be contracting with networks of clinics, hospitals and nursing homes to deliver care to their policy holders.  Larger numbers of Wisconsin citizens will be served by the staff in these medical facilites. 

An accepted staffing strategy utilized in the health care management of larger populations is the interprofessional team.  Often called an interdisciplinary collaboration.  The health care team consists of a medical doctor, a registered nurse, a licensed pharmacist, and a social worker. 

The interprofessional team is assigned a large group of patients to serve.  The interprofessional team is challenged to collaborate toward improved health outsomes while facilitating knowledge sharing and proper resource identification.  The focus is on delivering timely interventions aimed at keeping the patient in the community while reducing readmissions.

Tomorrows health care provider is stepping up plans to structure staffing in to teams that deliver care through a more diverse clinical model.  The educational arm of the interdisciplinary team members will begin to modify classes and programs to meet the State of Wisconsin's health care needs.  Expect to see teams serving large numbers of patients.

Home Care Path www.homecarpeath.com is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.  Services include:
-in home staffing with help for ADL's and IADL's
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-crisis intervention and transitional counseling
-temporary help with a scheduled day surgery
-downsizing home contents when stuff matters
-communicate face to face on the computer across long distances
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview.  2012 rates are 20.00 per hour.  Email lkutzke@homecarepath.onmicrosoft.com We can be there when you are working.  We accept long term care insurance.  Valuing home and human life.  Services are tax deductible.