Topic: Health Planning

elective surgery
Jan 18 2022

What to do if your elective surgery is postponed

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospitals were overwhelmed with patients who were seriously ill with the virus, most of them indefinitely postponed all elective surgeries. As the initial surge decreased, these surgeries were rescheduled. Unfortunately, the omicron variant of the virus has put hospitals in a difficult position once again. Because of the... Read More

Topics:
surprise medical bills
Jan 11 2022

How the No Surprises Act protects you against surprise medical bills

Health finance  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Surprise medical bills can cause significant financial and mental stress, with some bills totaling in the thousands of dollars. These types of bills are so common and hard to understand that Kaiser Health News and NPR have an ongoing monthly feature called “Bill of the Month, where they investigate bills submitted by readers. What are... Read More

Topics: ,
immunizations
Jan 4 2022

Are you up to date on all your immunizations?

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Getting the full series of COVID-19 vaccines is an important way to both protect your health and the health of your community. But are you keeping current with the other adult immunizations that are appropriate for you? To find out which immunizations are recommended, talk with your primary care provider. Your provider can tell you... Read More

Topics:
doctor retiring
Nov 16 2021

Is your doctor retiring? These strategies can help you find a new one.

Healthy Living  •  By Miles Varn, MD

The stress and trauma experienced by many healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic has added to an issue that was already on the radar—a looming shortage of both primary care physicians and specialists. Many doctors are choosing to retire early and others are choosing to leave medicine because of burnout or mental health issues caused... Read More

Topics:
vaccinated
Nov 2 2021

How to ask family and friends if they’re vaccinated before holiday gatherings

Healthy Living  •  By Miles Varn, MD

As the winter holidays approach, people are hoping to make up for the togetherness they missed during last year’s holiday season because of the pandemic. Much has changed since last year’s holidays and even since COVID-19 vaccines first became available last winter: Vaccines: Everyone 12 and older has been eligible to be vaccinated for some... Read More

Topics:
second opinion
Sep 13 2021

Three challenges to getting a second opinion and how to overcome them

Second Opinion  •  By Miles Varn, MD

A second opinion can be a valuable tool to help you ensure that your diagnosis is accurate and you’re choosing an appropriate treatment plan. Second opinions from experienced specialists can confirm or change your diagnosis and treatment options, lowering your risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that approximately 88%... Read More

Topics: ,
healthy aging
Aug 17 2021

What are the key strategies for healthy aging?

Healthy Living  •  By Miles Varn, MD

There’s no magic elixir that will prevent you from getting older, but by making appropriate lifestyle choices and being proactive about finding new ways to optimize your health, you can be healthier as you grow older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent update of the report, “The State of Aging... Read More

Topics: , ,
college
Aug 10 2021

The steps you should take now to protect your college student’s health and wellbeing

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

If your child is starting or returning to college this fall, there are several steps you can take now to help prepare them to handle health issues that arise while they’re away from home. If they haven’t already been active partners in their care, now is a good time to help them learn how to... Read More

Topics: , ,
preventive care
Jun 29 2021

Answers to common questions about preventive care

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Preventive care is the foundation of a strategy to help lower your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes and mange risk factors for diseases like cancer. The goal is to help preserve your health, manage any health issues you’ve been diagnosed with, and detect serious diseases like cancer as early as possible... Read More

Topics: , ,
Sun Life
May 18 2021

The secret to longevity is simpler than you think

Podcast  •  By Miles Varn, MD

I was recently invited to speak with Dr. Ruchir Sehra and Nancy Rothstein on the Performance Enhancer podcast. We covered a wide range of topics during our discussion, from COVID-19 to the steps you can take to improve your longevity. We share some of the highlights from our discussion in this post. The pandemic has... Read More

Topics: , ,