Posts from 2018

Happy holidays from PinnacleCare
Dec 25 2018

Happy Holidays from PinnacleCare

Blog

All of us at PinnacleCare wish you and your loved ones the healthiest and happiest of holiday seasons. We hope you get the chance to relax, enjoy time with family and friends, and recharge for the new year. We are here to help whenever you need us, every day of the year. Whether you’re working... Read More

chemo brain
Dec 18 2018

Help managing “chemo brain”

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and chemotherapy has been part of your treatment plan, during or after treatment you may notice that you’re more forgetful, have trouble concentrating, or just feel “foggy” mentally. Many cancer survivors call this chemo brain, while physicians often use the term cognitive dysfunction associated with chemotherapy, and up to... Read More

Topics:
medication errors
Dec 11 2018

The 7 Steps You Should Take to Prevent Medication Errors

Health Risk Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Medication errors are more common than you may think and they can have serious health consequences. One study found that preventable medication errors affect more than 7 million patients per year and account for more than 3.5 million doctor’s visits and 1 million emergency department visits. The types of errors range from the wrong dosage... Read More

Topics:
birth control
Dec 4 2018

Could your birth control method lower your risk of ovarian cancer?

Health Risk Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Researchers have found an association between the use of birth control pills that combine estrogen and progestogen and a lower risk of developing ovarian cancer. Most of those studies focused on older formulations of the pills that contained higher doses of estrogen and different forms of progestogen than newer combined hormonal contraceptive pills. A recent... Read More

living with dementia
Nov 27 2018

5 things you can do to improve quality of life for loved ones with dementia

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

In spite of stereotypes that paint people living with dementia as perpetually anxious and unhappy, recent research has found that the majority of years people live with cognitive impairment are happy ones. If a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, these steps can help improve his or her... Read More

doctor's visit
Nov 13 2018

Have you reviewed your medical records? Here’s why you should.

Health Risk Management

Thanks to HIPAA, you have the right to get a copy of your medical records and review them. There’s a good reason to take the time to read over your records in detail. A study published in BMJ Quality and Safety found that 29% of the study participants who reviewed their doctors’ visit notes found... Read More

flu tips
Nov 6 2018

5 things you should know about the flu

Disease Management

You’ve probably seen the signs in your local pharmacy, doctor’s office, even the grocery store. They all have the same message—it’s time to get your annual flu shot. Although flu activity is still low in most states, the time to start getting ready is now, well before the number of people with the flu grows... Read More

medication errors
Oct 30 2018

Prescribed Antidepressants? Ask Your Doctor These Questions

Health Risk Management  •  By Miles Varn, M.D.

About one in eight Americans older than 12 reported taking antidepressants in a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. That’s an increase of 65% between 1999 and 2014, the last year data was available in the study. The study also found that long-term use of antidepressants has... Read More

An accurate EMR can be the key to better healthcare.
Oct 23 2018

Pap or HPV test? What to know about cervical cancer screening

Health Risk Management  •  By Miles Varn, M.D.

When it comes to screening for cervical cancer, you may be confused by recent articles about changing screening guidelines. Because each woman’s situation and risk factors are unique, your first step should be to talk with your gynecologist. Here’s some background on the available tests and recommendations that can help you start the discussion. What... Read More

Chemotherapy-induced hair loss
Oct 16 2018

Answers to the top questions about lymphoma (Part 2)

Disease Management

To help you learn more about this type of cancer, which affects both children and adults, this is the second of two blog posts that will answer the top questions about the symptoms and treatment options for this disease. What are they symptoms of lymphoma? Symptoms can vary depending on the type of lymphoma. The... Read More