Family Health Blog
Recent health news, buzzworthy medical blogs, and personal wellness advice curated by our PinnacleCare team and our CEO, Dr. Miles Varn.
Category: Health Risk Management
Should health advisory be part of your health strategy?
You have health insurance and a great primary care provider. Are there other resources that could help you build a personalized strategy to manage your health and wellbeing? Health advisory services are one option to explore. Health advisors do not provide medical care. Instead, they offer a range of services and resources that expand and... Read More
Should you say yes to becoming a medical power of attorney?
If a family member or friend asked you to serve as her or his medical power of attorney, what would your answer be? Many people say yes without a second thought, but you should take some time to understand what your responsibilities would be, why the person has chosen you, and what potential complications and... Read More
Important tips for winter workout safety
If the gym has been your go to place to work out once the weather turns cold, rainy, and snowy, you may be reconsidering that plan this winter. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, workouts at crowded indoor gyms may put you at risk of contracting the virus. Fortunately, there are several other ways you can... Read More
Your surgeon’s experience can mean the difference between a good outcome and a poor one
If your doctor has recommended surgery, there are two important steps you should take before agreeing to undergo any procedure. First, seek a second opinion from a physician who has extensive experience treating people with your diagnosis. A second opinion can change or confirm your diagnosis and treatment plan and may provide you with other,... Read More
Should you ask your doctor for a medication review?
According to statistics gathered by the CDC, nearly half of adults in the U.S. take one prescription medication, while nearly a quarter take three or more prescription medications. The numbers are even higher for people who are 65 and older. Eighty-nine percent of people included in a Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll take one... Read More
Three ways to protect yourself from medical record mistakes
In a perfect world, your electronic medical record would bring together your medical information from all the healthcare providers you see into a single, comprehensive record that could be easily accessed by any provider anywhere in the world with your permission. This information could reduce your risk of medical errors, duplicate testing, and inappropriate treatment.... Read More
Three challenges to getting the care you need and how to overcome them
Many people assume that if they have a good health insurance plan, that’s all they need to get access to the care they need. Unfortunately, health insurance is only one part of the care access equation. Even with a great health plan, it can still be difficult to get the care you need when you... Read More
What you should know about the potential unintended consequences of genetic testing
I recently talked with KevinMD on his podcast about the potential unintended consequences of genetic testing. You can learn more about the subject in this post. Clinical and direct-to-consumer genetic testing are much less expensive and more common than they used to be. You can buy a genetic test kit at Walmart or your... Read More
An advance directive is only for the elderly and other myths
You may think of an advance directive as a document you only need once you’re in your 60s and 70s or when you’ve been diagnosed with a serious illness. In fact, it’s a good idea to create your advance directive when you’re young and healthy. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fact that anyone at... Read More
Returning to work safely during the pandemic
If you’ve been working remotely or have been furloughed during the pandemic and your employer is now reopening your workplace, you may have concerns about whether it’s safe to return to work during the pandemic. If you’re in a group that’s at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including people over 65 and... Read More