Health Blog

Would you understand if your doctor told you your EKG was unremarkable or your condition was idiopathic? Like all professions, medicine has its own vocabulary. Unfortunately, most patients aren’t fluent in the language of medical jargon and many doctors don’t provide plain English explanations when sharing information, test results, or recommendations with their patients. That... Read More

Incorrectly filled prescriptions occur more often than most people know and the effects of these medication errors can have a significant impact on your health. According to one paper on the impact of medication errors, preventable medication errors affect more than 7 million Americans and cost nearly $21 billion each year. Health problems caused by... Read More

Recent vaping-related illnesses are an example of something that can happen with any new or rare health problem. When faced with a new or rare condition, patients may face a higher risk of being misdiagnosed. For example, when patients who were eventually diagnosed with vaping-related illnesses first sought treatment, most were believed to have pneumonia... Read More

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a complex health problem such as advanced cancer or organ failure that means you’ll need a transplant or a rare condition such as sickle-cell disease or hemophilia the right support can not only have a positive effect on the outcome of your treatment it can... Read More

One of the most important skills your doctor has is listening. He or she should take time to talk with you not only about symptoms you’re experiencing, but about the story behind those symptoms. But sometimes doctors are pressed for time or are used to asking their patients a series of yes or no questions.... Read More

Even if you’re the picture of health, you may see more than one doctor—a primary care physician, a gynecologist if you’re a woman, an occasional urgent care healthcare professional. And if you’re living with a chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes or have been diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, the number of... Read More

Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step towards finding the right treatment. But for people living with a rare or complex disease, getting that diagnosis can be a long, frustrating process that delays treatment. Depending on which disease you face, getting a definitive diagnosis can take from 7 to 10 years. And though approximately... Read More

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

If you have a high deductible health plan, a health savings account (HSA) allows you to put aside pre-tax or tax-deductible dollars to pay for deductibles, co-payments, and qualified medical expenses that aren’t covered by your health plan, such as prescription glasses and dental care. The goal is to reduce your out-of-pocket medical costs. But... Read More

There are many different reasons people decide it’s time to switch to a new doctor, whether it’s your primary care doctor, a specialist, or your child’s pediatrician. And while you might feel hesitant to end your relationship, especially if you’ve been seeing the doctor for a long time, sometimes switching to a new doctor is... Read More