Family Health Blog

Getting access to the healthcare you need in the U.S. is harder than it should be for many people. In many areas of the country, there are long waits for appointments with specialists. A survey conducted by Merritt Hawkins, a national physician recruiting firm, found that it takes around 26 days for a new patient... Read More

Going to the doctor and having your symptoms or concerns dismissed or downplayed is more than a frustrating experience. This failure of your healthcare provider to listen to you and take the symptoms you report seriously can lead to misdiagnosis and significantly delayed diagnosis of a serious health issue. This behavior by medical professionals is... Read More

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have tried a virtual visit through an online app or a service provided by your health insurer. Many primary care physicians and specialists around the country didn’t even offer virtual visits as an option, but 2020 changed that. Because people were concerned about potential exposure to the virus at... Read More

Back pain is a more common problem than you may realize. It’s one of the most common reasons people see their doctor and also one of the most common causes people miss work. About 60% to 80% of adults experience low back pain during their lives, and for 10% of them the pain continues for... Read More

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

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

There’s a new rule that requires hospitals to list the price for all the services they provide and medications they prescribe for patients in the hospital. In theory, this should give you more information that can help you figure out what your care will cost and where it makes the most economic sense to receive... Read More

If your doctor has recommended back surgery for chronic back pain, your next step should be to learn about the factors that may affect the outcome of your surgery. Understanding the potential risks and benefits of surgery and what you can do to increase the likelihood of a positive outcome are the keys to making... Read More

If you’re scheduled to have surgery, there are proactive steps you can take that can help lower your risk of experiencing complications after surgery such as post-operative infections and blood clots. Complications due to the surgical procedure, rather than a worsening of the underlying condition that caused the need for the surgery, are the main... Read More

You may not think about how your health and healthcare decisions affect your financial wellbeing beyond the issues of how much you pay for health insurance and what you have to pay out of your own pocket for your deductible and copays. But there are a number of other ways that your health can have... Read More