Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare

Send us Fan Mail I talk often about how to navigate the healthcare system should you need services, surgery or end up in the ER.  I do this so you are empowered to be your own advocate and navigate the system versus being a victim to 1-800 number with your health insurance company or unanswered calls.   What is also important is awareness of the system and options that are being shared with you…ar...

Send us Fan Mail I often hear the stories and sometimes complaints from my sweet Mom and her friends about getting old, another doctor’s appointment, cataract surgery…another expense, or I’m losing my teeth, my back hurts and all the handicap spots are taken. It really is hard to hear these stories but my Mom is right, living on a limited Medicare budget every expense adds up and watching the body...

Send us Fan Mail People are going without needed care, living in pain with chronic illnesses because they cannot afford medications, and many are going without health insurance overall with the ER as their only option. I recently had a conversation with someone at a gathering who shared how she needs a monthly inhaler that costs $350 a month.  In order to provide for her kids as a single Mom, she...

Send us Fan Mail Inflation, supply chain issues, the price of gas and groceries have all had impacts on families, just another aftermath of COVID and now that the Public Health Emergency (PHE) has ended as of May 11, 2023, we continue to get back to a life of normalcy, but here is what I know is true, that normalcy will never be the same. While we will likely continue to experience the ever rising...

Send us Fan Mail Physician burnout is an epidemic in the U.S. health care system, with nearly 63% of physicians reporting signs of burnout such as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization at least once per week. As a patient you may experience: ·       Cynical or negative attitudes or lack of personalization ·       Noticeable emotional exhaustion.  ·       Rushed visit or short answers to quest...

Send us Fan Mail Special note: the herb Shoba mentions is the herb is Aristolochia Indica , part of the Aristolochia family.    Intro:  A cancer diagnosis can be one of the most difficult things you encounter in your lifetime. For many, you’re just living your life and out of nowhere you get a cancer diagnosis.  What if you have been diagnosed 3 times like our guest today, how do you navigate your...

Send us Fan Mail Most American consumers are unhappy with their healthcare experiences, with most wishing for more personalized interactions versus no response or being routed to an offshore team who doesn’t understand our healthcare system and likely reads from a script. Also, many are frustrated through their experiences with healthcare providers, from difficulties scheduling appointments to imp...

Send us Fan Mail What are the basic human rights of healthcare?  Health Equity is defined as reaching “the highest level of health for all people.” It means giving everyone the support they need to access the same level of medical care and education regardless of status. This could mean: A vaccine is available to at-risk people. An organization provides free clinics for people in low income neighb...

Send us Fan Mail Having a mental health issue can be scary leaving you filled with anxiety or just finding the courage to reach out especially if you are in a dark place can be difficult as well. Also trying to figure out where you start to get the help you need and can you afford it? There are many people who are struggling with mental health…you are not alone, there are resources…YOU matter!  We...

Send us Fan Mail Note: I work diligently to make sure podcasts are mastered for the the best audio production.  My sincere apologies, there was technical wonkiness on my audio that we mastered for the best quality considering the technical issue.  This doesn't take away from the amazing content.  Thank you for your grace and understanding. What is a bone density test and who needs one?  A bon...

Send us Fan Mail Note: I work diligently to make sure podcasts are mastered for the the best audio production.  My sincere apologies, there was technical wonkiness on my audio that we mastered for the best quality considering the technical issue.  This doesn't take away from the amazing content.  Thank you for your grace and understanding. While family caregiving can be a genuinely rewarding...

Send us Fan Mail In the last decade, the U.S. has taken measures to improve healthcare and the consumer experience. However, studies show that only seven percent of Americans are satisfied with the current healthcare system. The desire for change even crosses political lines and from multiple political affiliations…all agree the healthcare system needs changes or a complete overhaul.   The public...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes you are in a dark place and getting out of that is hard…reaching out for help is well difficult…what will people think…are you weak…you tell yourself to be strong. Finally, you find the courage to reach out, but where do you find the right resources, and can you afford the help you need? What we will discuss: 1.     Types of Mental Health Therapy Services 2.     The Cost...

Send us Fan Mail Susan S. shares her story: I was tired of being rushed through a doctor’s visit and having to repeat myself or gather additional paperwork when my specialist wasn’t communicating with my primary care doctor. Healthcare is expensive enough without having to manage this too and even more concerning, what if something gets missed? Trying the Direct Primary Care Model (DPC) was a win...

Send us Fan Mail Susan is a single Mom, with two beautiful daughters Zoe 5 and Emelia 3.  She is rolling the dice and going without healthcare insurance praying everyday she and her girls are kept safe.  She simply can’t afford a monthly premium of $875 a month with a $8000 deductible and she doesn’t qualify for Medicaid.   One incident requiring an ER visit with an extended stay in a hospital cou...

Send us Fan Mail Joe sees his Primary Care Physician complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain.  Because of his family history, and because Joe is overweight and smokes, his primary care physician is concerned that he may be at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Joe’s primary care physician coordinates care with a lab facility who runs his blood work, and a cardiologist screens Jason f...

Send us Fan Mail Having a surgery planned, or elective is concerning. There are so many questions and concerns. I know I had a total knee replacement surgery a year ago, and while my surgeon and the facility where I was having the procedure were awesome in providing prep documents and answering my questions, I was still anxious. I remember creating these scenarios about what could happen and wanti...

Send us Fan Mail Do you find yourself stressed when you think of your next provider visit?  Will you have time to ask the questions on your mind?  What if you don’t understand the responses, should you ask for clarification? Your provider sees you for that 20–30-minute visit and yet YOU live with yourself everyday 24 hours and seven days a week, no one knows YOU better than you! Don’t let a rushed...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew’s friend, who is a nurse, used to bug him to use his doctor’s portal app instead of calling to make an appointment every time he had a question about his diabetes. When COVID hit, he had to stop ignoring her suggestion. Now, the retired technology guru can’t imagine not being able to contact his primary care physician online.  Matthew also uses an app to track his A1C, the...

Send us Fan Mail I remember when so many practices were against telehealth vowing that in-person visits were still the best option.  There were many medical organizations that also shared this perspective…and then…COVID hit…there was no choice but to embrace telehealth.  Consumers were also skeptical trusting they would have better outcomes if they were in the office talking directly to the provid...

Send us Fan Mail In 2021 my husband and I had gained the responsibility for caring for our Dad.  He had many health issues, bad habits and was adapting to a new life and new location.  My husband works in finance, and I work in healthcare so I thought I could take the lead to navigate the system.  We navigated the Veteran’s Administration, commercial insurance, Medicare and Medicaid federal progra...

Send us Fan Mail There is no doubt that receiving a medical bill can bring on anxiety, especially since it can be hard to predict what you’ll be charged for a doctor’s visit, a procedure or any other medical service.  If you get an alarmingly high bill, you might feel too overwhelmed to deal with it. If it’s a small bill, you might be tempted to pay it without giving it a once-over, just to make i...

Send us Fan Mail Want to get a fair price on a medical procedure? Where do you begin and how can you make sure it is accurate?  We all know that people are being forced to bear the cost of healthcare on their own, either because they have high deductibles or are choosing to self-pay because they can’t afford the high premium. Sadly, while there have been some attempts at making pricing more transp...

Send us Fan Mail I was evaluating our insurance premiums for 2023 and they are going up by 7%.  This seems to be a constant trend with healthcare insurance and hits especially hard with the price of most everything on the rise.  One of the 2023 trends or should be trends I believe patient engagement and self-advocacy.  Not always is the information you get from your health insurance company reliab...

Send us Fan Mail For more than 150 years, advocates have been waging campaigns for health equity in the U.S. Relying primarily on moral arguments, these campaigns have tackled inequities in racial and ethnic minority health, women’s health, mental health, children’s health, veterans’ health, rural health, and most recently LGBTQ health. While these various campaigns have faded in and out the healt...