Your health is undoubtedly your most valuable asset. So with that in mind how do you protect your health ?Yes you probably have health insurance to look after your health if you become ill and car insurance in case you need to make compensation claims because of a car accident. But isn’t that paying someone else to look after your health after things go wrong ? A bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted ? What are you doing, or, what should you be doing to look after your health right now ?Do you get regular health check ups ? Do you have a Medic Alert? Do you exercise & eat all the right foods that are beneficial to your health ? Do you use health care products such as health supplements ? Do you smoke, drink or take drugs ? If so you may need to investigate Drug Rehabs in your area. Are you aware of how these habits affect your health ?I’m willing to bet that you make darn sure you look after your children’s health, making sure that they are not doing anything that is going to cause long term damage to their health ? But who is watching your health ? Who’s making sure you are not doing anything to damage your health ?Health is probably something we all take for granted & only realise how important our health is when we are ill or someone close to us is suffering from ill health. However if we all do nothing in regard to our health now, waiting until we begin to suffer from ill health & then trying to do something about it may be too late as we may have already done irreparable damage to our health. If you could do something now to prevent one of your assets diminishing, such as your bank balance, your home or your car would you ? Yes of course you would, so what about your most valuable asset, your health ?

Well it’s about time that someone took control of your health, and that someone is you ! Take control of your health now and make sure that valuable asset, your health, is well and truly looked after. Here are some suggestions that might help you to look after your health:

1. Get regular health check ups. If you have a good health insurance these are probably insisted upon. After all we all give our cars regular “health” checks, isn’t our health more important than the health of our vehicles?

2. Make sure you eat a healthy diet. Even if you don’t need to loose weight the right diet can help to improve your health.

3. Take regular exercise. 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week, even if it’s just a couple of 15 minute strolls, that’s not to great a chore to protect a valuable asset – your health.

4. If you smoke, stop now ! This is probably the best thing you can and ever will do for the sake of your health.

5. Cut down on your alcohol intake. Stick to the recommended guidelines for sensible drinking – for your health’s sake.

By: John Mac

About the Author:

Upon graduation from high school, there is no doubt that you will surely start your tertiary education in college or university. At age twenty, children will not be covered by health insurance of their parents and this can be disastrous if they are merely study and do not do part-time job. Some universities or colleges may have insurance plan offered to students. These insurance may not answer all your needs but you need to be meticulously considered it.

Most of the universities and colleges offer student health insurance plans. These plans should absolutely be at reasonable price, and can give you the school’s nearest hospitals. This option is one that you should definitely think of, if your son or daughter is enrolled in a college far away from home.

College health care scheme may vary from college to college due to laws and some other factors. Many students may think medical services are free of charge, but it is not always true. In term of clinic visit or routine checkups they may be free, however students still require to pay for special kinds of lab tests and other specialties such as x-rays, prescriptions, and a wound treatment. Compensation usually covers some types of service stated in the health care offered at college health centre. When you are referred to see an outside doctor, then the coverage will cover only 70% of your total expense and you are at risk to pay high medical cost.

You may have a problem getting treatment at the campus health centre if you have pre-existing condition. Having a pre-existing condition or illness does not mean to prevent you from obtaining health insurance plan, but you may not be eligible to have your treatment on your pre-existing condition. It can be troublesome if your new symptoms develop from a pre-existing one.

Health schemes are different, so be sure you find out everything about your health insurance plans. Be sure that your health plan stretch to summer break when you or your child do not take classes. This is vital for you because you don’t want to find out that your health care does not cover when you need it most. Some college health insurances may not cover during summer break, while others do.

Be certain that you study your plan thoroughly. Is it an HMO, or can the member utilise any service provider they went? This is critical. You need to know where you can go in case of emergency, and there is nothing worse than discovering that you will have to pay off the bill yourself.

There is no definitive solution to whether you should or should not commit yourself to college health insurance. Be certain that you study your plan thoroughly so that it answer to your need when you need it most. Although there is no free health insurance scheme, surely it will save you a lot of money in time of illness or accident.

For more information, please visit http://www.health-care-central.com



By: Health Care

About the Author:

American  Health Insurance 

People use health insurance to pay for all, or a  certain percentage of a person’s health care bills. It is usually an annually renewable contract between an insurance company or broker and an individual. It is important to get a number of health insurance quotes before deciding on a provider. Once an insurance claim is made, the individual policy-holder pays a deductible plus co-payment (for instance, a hospital stay might require the first 1000 dollar of fees to be paid by the policy-holder plus 100 dollar per night stayed in hospital). The premium changes depending on the health and age of the individual.

Health insurance is used to help people cover their health expenses which can include ambulance cover, Doctors appointments surgery and other related costs. Hospital costs can really add up if health insurnace is not taken out and you need medical assistance.

On a related topic about health, hospitals and servicemen, you can help hospitalized veterans who really need it. The biggest provider of therapeutic arts and crafts kits, for free, to the nation’s military and VA hospitals is HHV.  If you would like to get involved or would like to donate to help hospitalized veterans in that way, please contact Michael Cooper or HHV directly.

When you are thinking about insurance, life insurance is another option you should consider.  Life insurance companies should be compared to find the best option for you.  Think about your needs and what you want included, as well has how much coverage would be suitable.

Enhancing Services of Panchayat Raj in Public Health

* Ramaiah Bheenaveni



Panchayats in India are an age old institution for governance at village level. In 1992, through the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) were strengthened as local government organizations with clear areas of jurisdiction, adequate power, authority and funds commensurate with responsibilities.

Panchayats have been assigned 29 rural development activities, including several, which are related to health and population stabilization. The XI schedule includes Family Welfare, Health and Sanitation, (including hospitals, primary health centers, and dispensaries,) and the XII schedule includes Public Health.

“Thus the possible realm of influence of the Panchayats extends over a significant proportion of public health issues. The Gram Sabha, where empowered has the potential to act as a community level accountability mechanism to ensure that the functions of the village Panchayat in the area of public health and family welfare, actually respond to people’s needs”.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment makes it mandatory that functions related to the provision of primary health care – maternal health and family welfare are the responsibility of the PRIs. Besides the various development sector departments come under the functional jurisdiction of the district panchayat. Creating a health system with the panchayats being made responsible for supervising and monitoring health services seems an ideal model.

The National Health Policy, 2001, also emphasizes implementation of public health programmes through local self-government institutions, especially relating to the national disease control programmes. The Planning Commission set up a Task Force to review PRI involvement in various sectors and to make recommendations on engagement of PRIs specific to each sector. A Task Force Report pertaining to five major programmes within HFW and the particular functions of PRI. The Task Force Report summarizes key functions for each of the tiers of the PRI in respect of five major programmes- Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), and programmes for Vector Borne Diseases, Blindness TB Control Programmes, and STI/AIDS. Many of the activities proposed are related to identification of people in need of services, in collaboration with the health system and monitoring of village level health workers, and Primary and secondary health care facilities. Currently the PRI are not equipped to take on such planning and monitoring functions, nor is there a cognizance in the health system of the role of PRI.

Critical Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the success of the National Rural Health Mission

PRIs are seen as critical to the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the NRHM. The NRHM is seen as a vehicle to ensure that preventive and promotive interventions reach the vulnerable and marginalized through expanding outreach and linking with local governance institutions. Key to the success of the NRHM are: intersectoral convergence, community ownership steered through village level health committees at the level of the Gram Panchayat, and a strong public sector health system with support from the private sector. Underlying this is a commitment to systemic reform within the health sector for better regulation of medical establishments, public health oriented medical education, strengthened management capacity, and effective and rational human resource policies. Success of the NRHM in achieving its outcomes is significantly dependent on well functioning gram, block and district level Panchayats. It is anticipated that in the NRHM, a Task Force will be set up to specifically recommend and study the centrality of PRIs to the NRHM.

ASHA, the mechanism to strengthen village level service delivery, will be a local resident and selected by the Gram Panchayat or the Village Health Committee (VHC). She will be supported in her work by the AWW, school teacher, members of local community based organizations, such as SHGs, and the Village Health committee. ASHA’s role would be to facilitate care seeking and serve as a depot holder for a package of basic medicines. She will be reimbursed on a performance based remuneration plan.

The Village Health Committee (VHC) will form the link between the Gram Panchayat and the community. The VHC would be responsible for working with the Gram Panchayat to ensure that the health plan is in harmony with the overall local plan. It is anticipated that this committee will prepare a Village Health Plan and maintain village level data, supervised by the Gram Panchayat. Engaging the Gram Sabha and other groups in planning and monitoring the Village Health Plan will presumably enforce transparency and accountability.

Under the NRHM, untied funds of about Rs.5000-Rs. 10,000 are to be placed with the ANM to meet unanticipated expenditures and to ensure that lack of drugs and other consumables is not an issue. At the sub center level planning and use of these funds will be supported by the appropriate tier of the panchayat.

Effective health care is not within the realm of the health department alone. At the village level convergence is required with agencies providing nutrition, sanitation, education, livelihood/poverty alleviation and empowerment schemes at the very least. Beyond the functionaries of each of the line departments, the only institution at the village level which can coordinate all these functions is the PRI. In reality however there is little convergence at the village level in many states, much less an active role

for the PRI in facilitating convergence. At the District level a District Health Mission will coordinate NRHM functions. Sanitation will be aligned with the NRHM.

Several Health Programmes Monitoring by PRI:

ACCELERATED RURAL WATER SUPPLY PROGRAMME (ARWSP)

Under ARWSP, the Central Government is to supplement the efforts of the State Governments in providing access to safe drinking water to all rural habitations of the country.

The role of PRIs in implementation of this scheme are :

 Panchayati Raj Institutions should be involved in the implementation of schemes particularly in selecting the location of standpost, spot sources, operation and maintenance, fixing of cess/water tariff, etc.

 The implementation of the Sector Reform Projects in the identified pilot districts, are also to be carried out either by the District Panchayats or through the District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSM), which are to be registered societies under the supervision, control and guidance of District Panchayat.

 Wherever PRIs are themselves firmly in place and willing to take up the responsibility and are strong enough to do so, they implement the projects themselves instead of DWSM.

 At the village level, the individual Rural Water Supply Schemes are to be implemented through Village Water and Sanitation Committees which should be committees of Gram Panchayats.

 Drinking water supply assets are transferred to the appropriate level of Panchayats and such Panchayats are to be empowered to undertake operation and maintenance of drinking water systems.

CENTRAL RURAL SANITATION PROGRAMME (CRSP)

This programme aims at improving the general quality of life in rural areas; accelerating coverage in rural areas; generating demand through awareness creation and health education; and controlling incidence of water sanitation related diseases.

The role of PRIs in implementation if this scheme are :-

 Total Sanitation Campain (TSC) is a community based programme where Panchayati Raj Institutons are in the forefront.

 As per TSC Guidelines, the implementation at the district level is to be done by the District Panchayats. Panchayats at block and village level are to be fully involved for implementation of the programme.

 Where District Panchayat is not in a position to implement the programme, it is being implemented by District Water & Sanitation Mission which is chaired by Chairperson of District Panchayat and the Village Committees are chaired by the Chairpersons of Gram Panchayats. In the later case, the Village Water & Sanitation Mission are part of the Gram Panchayat.

SWAJALDHARA

This programme aims at providing Community-based Rural Drinking Water Supply. The key elements of this programmes are namely, (i) demand-driven and community participation approach, (ii) panchayats / communities to plan, implement, operate, maintain and manage all drinking water schemes, (iii) partial capital cost sharing by the communities upfront in cash, (iv) full ownership of drinking water assets with Gram Panchayats and (v) full Operation and Maintenance by the users/ Panchayats.

The role of PRIs in implementation of this scheme are :-

 Gram Panchayat shall convene a Gram Sabha Meeting where the Drinking Water Supply Scheme of People’s choice including design and cost etc. must be finalized. Gram Panchayats are to undertake procurement of materials/services for execution of schemes and supervise the scheme execution.

 A resolution must be passed in the Gram Panchayat meeting calling for users/beneficiaries to contribute 10% of the capital expenditure. However, GP can remit towards community contribution from its tax revinue (Not from Government Grants) with the approval of Gram Sabha.

 Gram Panchayat will decide whether the Panchayat wants to execute Scheme on its own or wants the State Government Agency to undertake the execution.

 After completion of such schemes, the Gram Panchayat will take over the Schemes for Operation & Maintenance(O&M).

 Panchayat must decide on the user charges from the community so that adequate funds available with Panchayat to undertake O&M.

Conclusions:

However, the extent to which reproductive health care is enhanced by the panchayats depends on the funds and functions devolved to them for carrying out these responsibilities. Clarity in the separation of powers between the elected representatives and the bureaucracy at the local government are important in this context. While the development targets include reducing the incidence of maternal mortality and morbidity, the question still remains whether the institutional interventions and resources allocated are adequate to address these problems. Gram Panchayat has a supervisory role in ensuring proper delivery of services. Many of them were not aware of what comprised the role and responsibility of panchayats in healthcare service delivery.

References:

1. Manual on Target Free Approach, Department of Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India

2. Panchayat Raj Institutions In India An Appraisal- National Institute Of Rural Development, 1995.

3. Vijayanand, S.M, Decentralization and Health, Paper presented at Role of Local Government Institutions in Population Stabilization, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, February 2003.

4. Dash, Dhanlaxmi (2006) – Women Environment and Health, Manga Deep Publications, Delhi.

5. The Constitution ( Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992,

6. Rosenstock IM. What research in motivation suggests for public health. Am J. Public Health. 1960; 50:295-301.



By: Ramaiah Bheenaveni

About the Author:

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By: Valipat Munpan

About the Author:

There are many facets to the world of mental health, especially when it comes to health insurance and finding adequate coverage for a variety of afflictions and disorders. We’ve put together some answers to some of the more common questions revolving around these topics for you below.

Do most health plans include mental health coverage? The answer, simply put, is yes. The vast majority of insurers and health plans cover at least a limited amount of mental health care.

According to a recent employer survey published in the journal Health Affairs: •91 percent of small firms (10-499 employees) and 99 percent of large firms offer mental health and substance abuse coverage in their most used medical plans. •Mental health and substance abuse coverage was included in 87 percent of indemnity plans, 88 percent of HMOs, 97 percent of Point of Service (POS) plans and 93 percent of Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs).

It is commonly acknowledged today, in 2006, that most employees who have employer-based health insurance have access to mental health coverage, and many of the employees who don’t have coverage have simply chosen not to join an employer’s plan that includes mental health services.

Does mental health coverage cost more? Yes, this is generally the case. There are limits to mental health coverage and the reason why most employers impose limits is due to cost. Estimates vary widely of how much more mental health coverage costs. Here are some results from some studies:

•A 1998 study sponsored by National Advisory Mental Health Council (NAMHC) Parity Workgroup, a division of the federal National Institute of Mental Health, estimated that mental health services would add less than 1 percent to the cost of a health insurance policy for an HMO.

•A 1998 study by Mathematica estimated a 3.6 percent increase across all plans, with a range of 0.6 percent increase for HMOs up to a 5 percent increase for fee-for-service plans.

•A 1997 analysis by the actuarial firm Milliman & Robertson for the National Center for Policy Analysis, examining the cost of a typical mental health mandate (not specific legislation), concluded that mental health services parity legislation tends to drive up costs by 5 percent to 10 percent. With regard to mental insurance in general, how do insurance companies treat mental illness? Insurance companies tend to be somewhat wary of mental health claims due to the increase of fraudulent claims. When Medicare looked for fraud in the community mental health centers last year, it barred 80 of them in nine states from participating in the program.

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which administers Medicare, knew something was amiss when the average yearly cost for each senior getting mental health services jumped from $1,642 in 1993 to more than $10,000 by 1997.

Medicare administrator Nancy-Ann DeParle contended at the time that 90 percent of the patients had no mental illness serious enough to qualify for special treatment.

That being said, it’s straightforward to understand why there is trepidation on the part of health insurance providers.

What mental conditions are typically covered, and not covered by health plans? Generally speaking, a health plan pays for only those services included in the plan’s list of covered services. In the case of mental health services, inpatient and outpatient treatment are most often covered by health plans.

However, there is a continuum of services between inpatient (mental health clinic) and outpatient care that effectively treat many mental disorders and are often more cost-effective than inpatient care at a mental health clinic.

These intermediate services include nonhospital residential services, partial hospitalization services, and intensive outpatient services such as case management and psychosocial rehabilitation. Psychosocial rehabilitation includes pharmacologic treatment, social skills training, and vocational rehabilitation.

Such services are covered by approximately half of employer-sponsored health plans. Prescriptions. Are they covered? Coverage of prescription medications is also important in providing access to treatment for mental health disorders. And, on a positive note, Prescription medications are nearly always covered by health plans (U.S. Department of Labor, 1996; 1998), but this coverage is sometimes limited by formulary restrictions.

Check with your healthcare provider for the exact details on what applies to you and your family with regard to your specific circumstances.



By: Kurt Stammberger

About the Author:

Several significant events have driven public and industry interest in personal health records. In 2004, President George W. Bush outlined a plan for the implementation of an electronic health record that could be accessed by all Americans. Although numerous companies had been in this market for several years, the announcement provided impetus for growth in this area. In 2007 and early 2008, computer giants Google and Microsoft announced their intentions to enter into this market, Google with Google Health and Microsoft with Microsoft HealthVault.

In March of 2008, laboratory industry leader Quest Diagnostics announced a partnership with Google Health to provide uploading of laboratory testing to Google’s version of a personal health record (PHR).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cites six positive outcomes with the implementation of widespread personal and/or electronic health records.

1. Improved healthcare quality

2. Prevention of medical errors

3. Reduction of healthcare costs

4. Increased administrative efficiencies

5. Decreased paperwork

6. Expanded access to affordable healthcare

Although there are a number of potential barriers to widespread implementation of personal health records, three are the most significant. They are:

1. Interoperability. The various systems need to be able to interact with each other and various computer systems.

2. Privacy and Security. The systems need to provide HIPAA-like compliance, but also have security measures similar to the banking industry and in compliance with a variety of industry standards.

3. Data Modification. In order for physicians to be able to act on medical information, they will need to be confident of the veracity of the medical data. This will at least partly require that they be able to determine the sources and modifications that have occurred to the information in personal health records.

Although there are a number of companies currently in the marketplace offering personal health records, they fall into four broad categories.

1. Standalones. These companies are primarily personal health record companies, such as LifeOnKey or FollowMe. In some cases these companies also specialize or have specialty subcategories, such as MiVia, which was designed for the migrant farmworker population, or LifeOnKey’s Diabetes focus or Women’s Health focus.

2. Spin-Offs of Information Technology or Software Companies. Most notable in this category are Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault.

3. Healthcare Providers. Examples of this are Partners HealthCare’s Patient Gateway and the Group Health Cooperative’s MyGroupHealth.

4. Platform Providers. In some cases, the companies are focused less on being the patient/consumer’s personal health record, than in providing the platform and/or technology for personal health records. MedCommons is an example of this. Microsoft HealthVault may also fall into this category. FollowMe also is willing to customize their product for other companies, which then provide their own branding.

There are five ways personal health record providers are generating revenue.

1. Subscriptions. Typically, standalone PHR providers charge nominal annual subscription rates ranging from about $25 to $50.

2. Advertising. Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault indicate they will generate income via advertising. It’s not yet clear how Microsoft intends to do this, but Google Health has indicated that their product itself will not contain advertising, but will have search boxes that connect to the traditional Google page, which does have targeted advertising.

3. Data mining. Although often mentioned as a possible source of revenue, few companies indicate they are currently selling non-user-identified health data to researchers or pharmaceutical companies.

4. Increased Service. Healthcare providers, in general, acknowledge that their personal health record systems are just part of the service and a happy client will remain with the system. Google Health indicates they aren’t in the healthcare business and part of their mission is to drive users to Google.

5. Subcontracting and licensing. MedCommons is focusing on providing their services and platform technology for other users and companies that might want to deliver personal health records. It’s not clear if Microsoft HealthVault plans to enter the market in this fashion, but many industry sources suggest it’s likely.

Ultimately, what is clear from looking at a cross-section of PHR providers is that there are a number of approaches to dealing with laboratory results depending on the nature of the PHR. Google Health has recently announced a partnership with Quest Diagnostics.

This is likely to be the first in a number of similar relationships with other laboratory corporations. The real question, one that remains unaddressed yet, is whether competing labs will create partnerships with Google Health and other PHRs or whether it will become an exclusive and competitive marketplace, where some PHRs will find their services locked out of the market.

Another potential question is whether or not a laboratory, independent or affiliated with a particular healthcare provider, is going to be able to provide data uploads to a myriad of different PHRs. Although largely a technical issue, it’s hard to see how a laboratory needing to provide results to twenty or thirty different PHRs in addition to requesting physicians and patients, is going to make laboratory medicine more efficient or cost-effective.

PHRs Gain Momentum

In his January 20, 2004, State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush outlined a plan for the implementation of an electronic health record that could be accessed by all Americans. The system was to be in place by 2015. According to the White House Web site, patient participation would be voluntarily, and “these electronic health records will be designed to share information privately and securely among and between health care providers when authorized by the patient.”

To achieve that goal, the following steps were taken:

1. Health Information Standards were adopted. Under the direction of the Department of Health and Human Services, in cooperation with other Federal agencies and the private sector, voluntary standards were to be identified and endorsed.

2. Health Care Information Technology Demonstration Project funding was increased to $100 million.

3. Federal agencies were encouraged to adopt Health Information Technology.

4. A sub-cabinet level position of National Health Information Technology Coordinator was created. This falls under the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

It’s important to note that the Bush Administration’s proposal did not break new ground. Numerous companies providing personal health records (PHR), medical health records, and electronic health records or some way of storing and delivering medical information electronically were in existence for several years prior to the Bush Administration’s efforts.

The announcement of launches into the health information technology (HIT) arena by Google and Microsoft has renewed media interest in the area, and may signal a renewed velocity and vigor to the market.



By: Mark Terry

About the Author:

Imbalance of Ecosystems and Its effect on Public and Livestock health

Dr.Kedar Karki M.V.St. (Preventive veterinary Medicine)

Central Veterinary Laboratory Tripureshwor

The health of humans, like all living organisms, is dependent on an ecosystem that sustains life. Healthy ecosystems are the sine qua non for healthy organisms. Yet there is abundant evidence that many life-support systems are far from healthy, placing an increased burden on human health. In some areas of the world, gains in life expectancy and quality of life made during the twentieth century are at risk of being reversed in the twenty-first century. The consequences of ecosystem degradation to human health are numerous, and include health risks from unsafe drinking water, polluted air, climate change, emerging new diseases, and the resurgence of old diseases owing to ecological imbalances. Reversing this damage is possible in some cases, but not in others. Prevention of ecological damage is by far the most efficient strategy.

DEFINING ECOSYSTEMS

An ecological system may be defined as a community of plants and animals interacting with each other and their abiotic, or natural, environment. Typically, ecosystems are differentiated on the basis of dominant vegetation, topography, climate, or some other criteria. Boreal forests, for example, are characterized by the predominance of coniferous trees; prairies are characterized by the predominance of grasses; the Arctic tundra is determined partly by the harsh climatic zone. In most areas of the world, the human community is an important and often dominant component of the ecosystem. Ecosystems include not only natural areas (e.g., forests, lakes, marine coastal systems) but also human-constructed systems (e.g., urban ecosystems, agro-ecosystems, impoundments). Human populations are increasingly concentrated in urban ecosystems, and it is estimated that, by the year 2010, 50 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas.

A landscape comprises a mosaic of ecosystems, including towns, rivers, lakes, agricultural systems, and so on. Precise boundaries between ecosystems are often difficult to establish. Often regions slide into one another gradually, over a protracted “transition” zone, as for example between the boreal forest and the Taiga regions of Canada.

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH

It is important to recognize the inherent difficulties in defining “health,” whether at the level of the individual, population, or ecosystem. The concept of health is somewhat of an enigma, being easier to define in its absence (sickness) than in its presence. Perhaps partially for that reason, ecologists have resisted applying the notion of “health” to ecosystems. Yet, ecosystems can become dysfunctional, particularly under chronic stress from human activity.Example for this can be cited the discharge of nutrients from sewage, industrial waste, or agricultural runoff into lakes or rivers affects the normal functioning of the ecosystem, and can result in severe impairment. Excessive nutrient inputs from human activity was one of the major factors that severely compromised the health of the lower Laurentian Great Lakes (Lake Erie and Lake Ontario) and regions of the upper Great Lakes (Lake Michigan). Unfortunately, degraded ecosystems are becoming more the rule than the exception.

The study of the features of degraded systems, and comparisons with systems that have not been altered by human activity, makes it possible to identify the characteristics of healthy ecosystems. Healthy ecosystems may be characterized not only by the absence of signs of pathology, but also by signs of health, including measures of vigor (productivity), organization, and resilience.

Vigor can be assessed in terms of the metabolism (activity and productivity) of the system. Ecosystems differ greatly in their normal ranges of productivity. Estuaries are far more productive than open oceans, and marshes have higher productivity than deserts. Health is not evaluated by applying one standard to all systems. Organization can be assessed by the structure of the biotic community that forms an ecosystem and by the nature of the interactions between the species (both plants and animals). Invariably, healthy ecosystems have more diversity of biota than ecologically compromised systems. Resilience is the capacity of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and functions in the face of natural disturbances. Systems with a history of chronic stress are less likely to recover from normal perturbations such as drought than those systems that have been relatively less stressed.

Healthy ecosystems can also be characterized in economic, social, and human health terms. Healthy ecosystems support a certain level of economic activity. This is not to say that the ecosystem is necessarily self-sufficient, but rather that it supports economic productivity to enable the human community to meet reasonable needs. Inevitably, ecosystem degradation impinges on the long-term sustainability of the human economy that is associated with it, although in the short-term this may not be evident, as natural capital (e.g., soils, renewable resources) may be overexploited and temporarily enhance economic returns. Similarly, with respect to social well-being, healthy ecosystems provide a basis for and encourage community integration. Historically, for example, native Hawaiian groups managed their ecosystem through a well-developed social cohesiveness that provided a high degree of cooperation in fishing and farming activity.

Another reflection of ecosystem health lies directly in the public health domain. In spring 2000, a deadly strain of the bacterium E-coli (0157:H7) entered the public water supply in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada, causing seven deaths and making thousands sick. This small town, with a population of five thousand, is in a farming community. Inadequate manure management from cattle operations was the likely source of this tragedy.

HOW HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS BECOME PATHOLOGICAL

Stress from human activity is a major factor in transforming healthy ecosystems to sick ecosystems. Chronic stress from human activity differs from natural disturbances. Natural disturbances (fires, floods, periodic insect infestations) are part of the dynamics of most ecosystems. These processes help to “reset” ecosystems by recycling nutrients and clearing space for recolonization by biota that may be better adapted to changing environments. Thus, natural perturbations help keep ecosystems healthy. In contrast, chronic and acute stress on ecosystems resulting from human activity (e.g., construction of large dams, release of nutrients and toxic substances into the air, water, and land) generally results in long-term ecological dysfunction.

Five major sources of human-induced (anthropogenic) stresses have been identified by D. J. Rapport and A. M. Friend (1979): physical restructuring, overharvesting, waste residuals, introduction of exotic species, and global change.

Physical Restructuring. Activities such as wetland drainage, removal of shoals in lakes, damming of rivers, and road construction fragment the landscape and alter and damage critical habitat. These activities also disrupt nutrient cycling, and cause the loss of biodiversity.

Overharvesting. Overexploitation is commonplace when it comes to harvesting of wildlife, fisheries, and forests. Over long periods of time, stocks of preferred species are reduced. For example, the giant redwoods that once thrived along the California coast now exist only in remnant patches because of overharvesting. When dominant species like the giant redwoods (arguably the world’s tallest tree—one specimen was recorded at 110 meters tall with a circumference of 13.4 meters) are lost, the entire ecosystem becomes transformed. Overharvesting often results in reduced biodiversity of endemic species, while facilitating the invasion of opportunistic species.

Waste Residuals. Discharges from municipal, industrial, and agricultural sources into the air, water, and land have severely compromised many of the earth’s ecosystems. The effects are particularly apparent in aquatic ecosystems. In some lakes that lack a natural buffering capacity, acid precipitation has eliminated most of the fish and other organisms. While the visual effect appears beneficial (water clarity goes up) the impact on ecosystem health is devastating. Systems that once contained a variety of organisms and were highly productive (biologically) become devoid of most lifeforms except for a few acid-tolerant bacteria and sediment-dwelling organisms.

Introduction of Exotic Species. The spread of exotics has become a problem in almost every ecosystem of the world. Transporting species from their native habitat to entirely new ecosystems can wreck havoc, as the new environments are often without natural checks and balances for the new species. In the Great Lakes Basin, the accidental introduction of two small pelagic fishes, the alewife and the rainbow smelt, combined with the simultaneous overharvesting of natural predators, such as the lake trout, led to a significant decline in native fish species. The introduction of the sea lamprey, an eel-like predacious fish that attacks larger fish, into Lake Erie and the upper Great Lakes further destabilized the native fish community. The sea lamprey contributed to the demise of the deepwater benthic fish community by preying on lake trout, whitefish, and burbot. This contributed to a shift in the fish community from one that had been dominated by large benthics to one dominated by small pelagics (fish found in the upper layers of the lake profile). This shift from bottom-dwelling fish (benthic) to surface-dwelling fish (pelagic) has now been partially reversed by yet another accidental introduction of an exotic: the zebra mussel. As the zebra mussel is a highly efficient filter of both phtyoplankton and zooplankton, its presence has reduced the available food in the surface waters for pelagic fish. However, while the benthic fish community has gained back its dominance, the preferred benthic fish species have not yet recovered owing to the degree of initial degradation. Overall, the increasing dominance by exotics not only altered the ecology, but also reduced significantly the commercial value of the fisheries.

Global Change. Rapid climate change (or climate warming) is an emerging potential global stress on all of the earth’s ecosystems. In evolutionary time, there have of course been large fluctuations in climate. However, for the most part these fluctuations have occurred gradually over long periods of time. Rapid climate change is an entirely different matter. By altering both averages and extremes in precipitation, temperature, and storm events, and by destabilizing the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which controls weather patterns over much of the southern Pacific region, many ecosystem processes can become significantly altered. Excessive periods of drought or unusually heavy rains and flooding will exceed the tolerance for many species, thus changing the biotic composition. Flooding and unusually high winds contribute to soil erosion, and at the same time add to nutrient load in rivers and coastal waters.

These anthropogenic stresses have compromised ecosystem function in most regions of the world, resulting in ecosystem distress syndrome (EDS). EDS is characterized by a group of signs, including abnormalities in nutrient cycling, productivity, species diversity and richness, biotic structure, disease prevalence, soil fertility, and so on. The consequences of these changes for human health are not inconsiderable. Impoverished biotic communities are natural harbors for pathogens that affect humans and other species.

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND HUMAN HEALTH

An important aspect of ecosystem degradation is the associated increased risk to human health. Traditionally, the concern has been with contaminants, particularly industrial chemicals that can have adverse impacts on human development, neurological functions, reproductive functions, and that appear to be causative agents in a variety of carcinomas. In addition to these serious environmental concerns (where the remedies are often technological, including engineering solutions to reduce the release of contaminants), there are a large number of other risks to human health stemming from ecological imbalance.

Ecosystem distress syndrome results in the loss of valued ecosystem services, including flood control, water quality, air quality, fish and wildlife diversity, and recreation. One of the major signs of EDS is increased disease incidence, both in humans and other species. Human population health should thus be viewed within an ecological context as an expression of the integrity and health of the life-supporting capacity of the environment.

Ecological imbalances triggered by global climate change and other causes are responsible for increased human health risks.

Climate Change and Vector-Borne Diseases. The global infectious disease burden is on the order of several hundred million cases per year. Many vector-borne diseases are climate sensitive. Malaria, dengue fever, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and various forms of viral encephalitis are all in this category. All these diseases are the result of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) which are transmitted to humans as a result of bites from blood-sucking arthropods.

Global climate change—particularly as it impacts both temperatures and precipitation—is highly correlated with the prevalence of vector-borne diseases. For example, viruses carried by mosquitoes, ticks, and other blood-sucking arthropods generally have increased transmission rates with rising temperatures. St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) serves as an example. The mosquito Culex tarsalis carries this virus. The percentage of bites that results in transmission of SLE is dependent on temperature, with greater transmission at higher temperatures.

The temperature dependence of vector-borne diseases is also well illustrated with malaria. Malaria is endemic throughout the tropics, with a high prevalence in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of South and Central America and Mexico. Approximately 2.4 billion people live in areas of risk, with some 350 million new infections occurring annually, resulting in approximately 2 million deaths, predominantly in young children. Untreated malaria can become a life-long affliction—general symptoms include fever, headache, and malaise.

The climate sensitivity of malaria arises owing to the nature of the interactions of parasites, vectors, and hosts, all of which impact the ultimate transmission rates to humans. The gestation time required for the parasite to become fully developed within the mosquito host (a process termed sporogony) is from eight to thirty-five days. When temperatures are in the range of 20°C to 27°C, the gestation time is reduced. Rainfall and humidity also have an influence. Both drought and heavy rains tend to reduce the population of mosquitoes that serve as vectors for malaria. In drier regions of the tropics, low rainfall and humidity restricts the survival of mosquitoes. Severe flooding can result in scouring of rivers and destruction of the breeding habitats for the mosquito vector, while intermediate rainfall enhances vector production.

Ecological Imbalances. Cholera is a serious and potentially fatal disease that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. While not nearly so prevalent as malaria, cases are nonetheless numerous. In 1993, there were 296,206 new cases of cholera reported in South America; 9,280 cases were reported in Mexico; 62,964 cases in Africa; and 64,599 cases in Asia. Most outbreaks in Asia, Africa, and South America have originated in coastal areas. Symptoms of cholera include explosive watery diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The most recent pandemic of cholera involved more regions than at any previous time in the twentieth century. The disease remains endemic in India, Bangladesh, and Africa. Vibrio cholerae has also been found in the United States—in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida; the Chesapeake Bay area; and the California coast.

The increase in prevalence of V. cholerae has been strongly linked to degraded coastal marine environments. Nutrient-enriched warmer coastal waters, resulting from a combination of climate change and the use of fertilizers, provides an ideal environment for reproduction and dissemination of V. cholerae. Recent outbreaks of cholera in Bangladesh, for example, are closely correlated with higher sea surface temperatures. V. cholerae attach to the surface of both freshwater and marine copepods (crustaceans), as well as to roots and exposed surfaces of macrophytes (aquatic plants) such as the water hyacinth, the most abundant aquatic plant in Bangladesh. Nutrient enrichment and warmer temperatures give rise to algae blooms and an abundance of macrophytes. The algae blooms provide abundant food for copepods, and the increasing copepod and macrophyte populations provide V. cholerae with habitat. Subsequent dispersal of V. cholerae into estuaries and fresh water bodies allows contact with humans who use these waters for drinking and bathing. Global distribution of marine pathogens such as V. cholerae is further facilitated by ballast water discharged from vessels. Ballast water contains a virtual cocktail of pathogens, including V. cholerae.

Two other examples of how ecological imbalances lead to human health burdens concern the increased prevalence of Lyme disease and hantavirus pulmonary disease. Lyme disease, sonamed because it was first positively identified in Lyme, Connecticut, is a crippling arthritic-type disease that is transmitted by spirochete-infected Ixodes ticks (deer ticks). Ticks acquire the infection from rodents, and spend part of their life cycle on deer. Three factors have combined to increase the risk to humans of contracting Lyme disease, particularly in North America: (1) the elimination of natural deer predators, particularly wolves; (2) reforestation of abandoned farmland has created more favorable habitat for deer; and (3) the creation of suburban estates, which the deer find ideal habitat for browsing. The net result is a rising deer population, which increases the chances of humans coming into more contact with ticks.

By 1995, in the southwestern United States, hantavirus infection was confirmed in ninety-four persons in twenty states, with 48 percent mortality. Variants of the strain that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome have also been found in other areas of the country, as well as in Asia and Europe. The virus is apparently asymptomatic in rodents, and it is transmitted in their saliva and excreta. In humans it has a flu-like presentation, which is followed by acute respiratory distress syndrome. The primary reservoir in the Four Corners area of the southwestern United States is the deer mouse. Climatic disturbances, which in recent years are thought to be exacerbated by human activity (e.g., global warming), appear to set up conditions that trigger outbreaks. In the early 1990s, ENSO events initially caused drought conditions to develop in the southwestern United States. This led to a decline in plant and animal populations, including natural predators of the deer mouse. Heavy rains followed the drought in 1993, resulting in a bumper crop of piñon nuts, a major food supply for the deer mouse. Subsequently the deer mouse population greatly increased, bringing about increased contact with humans and triggering the outbreak of hantavirus.

Antibiotic Resistance and Agricultural Practice Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to public health. Antibiotic resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common bacterial pathogen in humans and a leading cause of many infections, including chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and meningitis, have greatly increased in prevalence since the mid-1970s. In some regions of the world, up to 70 percent of bacterial isolates taken from patients proved resistant to penicillin and other b-lactam antibiotics. The use of large quantities of antibiotics in agriculture and aquaculture appears to have been a key factor in the development of antibiotic resistance by pathogens in farm animals that subsequently may also infect humans. One of the most serious risks to human health from such practices is vancomycin-resistant enterococci. The use of avoparcin, an animal growth promoter, appears to have compromised the utility of vancomycin, the last antibiotic effective against multi-drug-resistant bacteria. In areas where avoparcin has been used, such as on farms in Denmark and Germany, vancomycin-resistant bacteria have been detected in meat sold in supermarkets. Avoparcin was subsequently banned by the European Union. Another example is the use of ofloxacin to protect chickens from infection and thereby enhance their growth. This drug is closely related to ciprofloxacin, one of the most widely used antibiotics in the year 2000. There have been cases of resistance to ciprofloxacin directly related to its veterinary use. In the United Kingdom, ciprofloxacin resistance developed in strains of campylobacter, a common cause of diarrhea. Multi-drug-resistant strains of salmonella have been traced to European egg production.

Food and Water Security. Agricultural practices are also responsible for a growing number of threats to public health. Some of these are related to inadequate waste management, which has resulted in parasites and bacteria entering water supplies. Others are of entirely different origins and involve apparent transfer across species of pathogens that affect both animals and humans. The most recent and spectacular example is mad cow disease, known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, a neuro-degenerative condition that, in humans, is ultimately fatal. The first case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), the animal form of the disease, was identified in Southern England in November 1981. By the fall of 2000, an outbreak had also occurred in France, and isolated cases appeared in Germany, Switzerland, and Spain. More than one hundred deaths in Europe were attributed to what has come to be commonly called mad cow disease.

Improper manure management was the likely source of the outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada. Other health risks associated with malfunctioning agroecosystems include periodic outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis, a parasitic disease that is spread by surface runoff contaminated by feces of infected cattle. This parasite causes fever and diarrhea in immunocompetent individuals and severe diarrhea and even death in immunocompromised individuals.

ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

Ecosystem pathology in some cases can be reversed simply by removing the source of stress. In cases, for example, where ecosystem degradation is the result of point-source additions of nutrients or toxic chemicals, removal of these stresses may result in considerable recovery of ecosystem health. A classic case is Lake Washington (near Seattle, Washington). This lake had become highly anoxic (oxygen-depleted) owing to a sewage outfall entering the lake. Redirecting the sewage outfall away from the lake reversed many of the signs of pathology.

In cases where it is not feasible to remove the source of stress, more innovative engineering solutions have been tried. For example, in the Kyrönjoki and Lestijoki Rivers in western Finland, spring and fall runoff leads to sharp pulses of acidity. Spring runoff from snowmelt, which releases acid from tilled or dug soils, has been particularly damaging to fish, during the critical time of year for spawning. Fish reproduction is severely curtailed, if not all together eliminated in highly acidic water. Further there have been massive fish kills resulting from the highly acidic waters. One possible remedy is to replace the original drains which take runoff from the land to the rivers with new limed drains that can neutralize the acidity. This solution has been implemented on an experimental basis and appears to substantially reduce acidic runoff.

More radical treatments for damaged ecosystems involve “ecosystem surgery.” In some cases, invading exotic vegetation (such as mangroves in Hawaii) have been removed from regions, and native vegetation has been replanted. In areas of North America where wetlands have been severely depleted owing to farming, urbanization, and industrial activity, efforts have been made to establish new wetlands.

More often than not, however, reversing ecosystem pathology is not possible. Efforts to restore the indigenous grasslands in the Jornada Experimental Range in the southwestern United States provide an example. Overgrazing by cattle has severely degraded the landscape and has lead to replacement of the native grasses by largely inedible shrubs, dominated by mesquite. Erosion by wind and episodic heavy rains have left areas between shrubs largely bare, and subsequently underlying sands have developed in dune-like fashion over a large part of the area. The resulting mesquite dunes have proven highly resistant to efforts to restore the native grasslands, although almost every intervention has been tried, including highly toxic defoliants (Agent Orange), fire, and bulldozing.

Even where it has been possible to restore some of the ecological functions of degraded ecosystems, and thus improve ecosystem health, the restoration seldom results in reestablishment of the pristine biotic community. The best that can be achieved in most cases is reestablishment of the key ecological functions that provide the required ecosystem services, such as the regulation of water, primary and secondary productivity, nutrient cycling, and pollination. In all such efforts, key indicators of ecosystem health (vigor, productivity, and resilience) are essential to monitor progress. Standard ecological indicators can be used for this purpose (e.g., measures of productivity, species composition, nutrient flows, soil fertility) along with socioeconomic and human health indicators.

Experience in efforts to restore highly damaged ecosystems suggests that ecosystem-health prevention is far more effective than restoration. For marine ecosystems, setting aside protective zones that afford a sanctuary for fish and wildlife has considerable promise. Many countries are adopting policies to establish such areas with the prospect that these healthy regions can serve as a reservoir for biota that have become depleted in the unprotected areas. Yet this remedy is not without its limits. Restoring ecosystem health is not simply a matter of replenishing lost or damaged biota. It is also a matter of reestablishing the complex interactions among ecosystem lifeforms. Having a ready source of healthy biota that could potentially recolonize damaged ecosystems is important, but it is only part of the solution.

PREVENTION OF ECOSYSTEM DISRUPTIONS

Given the difficulties in reversing ecosystem degradation, and the many associated human health risks that arise with the loss of ecosystem health, the most effective approach is simply the prevention of ecosystem disruption. However, like many common-sense approaches, this is easier said than done. In both developed and developing countries there is a strong inclination to continue economic growth, even at the cost of severe environmental damage. Apart from selfish motivations, the argument is made that economic growth has many obvious health benefits, such as providing more efficient means of distributing food supplies, providing more plentiful food, and providing better health services and funding for research to improve standards of living. These are indeed benefits of economic development, and have led to substantial increases in health status worldwide.

However, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, the past is not necessarily the best guide to the future. The human population is at an all-time high, and associated pressures of human activity have led to increasing degradation of the earth’s ecosystems. As ultimately healthy ecosystems are essential for life of all biota, including humans, current global and regional trends are ominous. Under these circumstances, a tradeoff between immediate material gains and long-term sustainability of humans on the planet may be the only option. If so, the solution to sustaining human health and ecosystem health becomes one of devising a new politic that places sustaining life support systems as a precondition for betterment of the human condition.

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By: Dr.Kedar Karki

About the Author:

The laws of Texas health insurance, also known as the portability and the Health Insurance Accountability Act, were established in 1996 by Congress to protect workers and their families to health insurance and establish standards for insurance providers and employers. Title I to protect workers if they change jobs or get fired from a current job. The protection extends to employees as family members. Title II covers a different aspect of the legislation on health insurance, requiring health care facilities, employees, insurance providers and health to meet the standards set nationally. Title II is also known as Administrative Simplification (AS), using electronic data systems in Texas and across the United States to issues of health care much more efficient than in the past.

Title I of the Texas Health Insurance main objective is to change the law on service of public health and retirement income of employees of the Security Act. Under Title I, the providers of health insurance in Texas and across the United States cannot judge eligible workers or not simply based on disability, genetics, or their medical history. Health insurance companies in Texas and other states to be able to impose restrictions on health insurance plans for workers who had pre-existing conditions. However, Title I limits of these restrictions that insurers are allowed to put on benefits for workers who fall into this category. In addition, Title I also prohibits providers of health insurance restrictions on coverage or refuse workers to pre-existing conditions.

Title II of HIPPA was created first for the simplification of administrative rules, which require the Department of Health and Human Services to help promote efficiency and effectiveness of health care system in Texas and all other states. Title II also includes two sets of criminal and civil penalties for those who violate the laws. The Department of Health and Human Services has established five key rules: security, privacy, laws, unique identifiers, and transactions and code sets rules.

The safety rule consists of three sections: administrative, physical and technical. Protective measures administrative guidelines for health care to be met, particularly regarding security issues. The Privacy Rule expands on this, imposing restrictions on disclosure of information concerning a person’s health care status. The application of the Article sets of sanctions, primarily civil violations and fines for those who have violated HIPAA. The article attributes the unique ten-digit National Provider Identifier number to entities such as hospitals or doctors to promote the effectiveness of the health care system in Texas and across the U.S. Finally, the Code operations and establishes rules cover many aspects of health care such as requests for information on eligibility and benefits and the transmission of information on health care.

The HIPAA originally charged health care facilities at a cost to get “in conformity” with the HIPAA. Since its inception, the HIPAA laws have affected research and clinical care. Because HIPAA call for details on many forms, some patients complain that many things are extremely user-hostile. Other studies suggest that the HIPAA privacy rules May have adverse effects on costs and results of health research. The implementation of HIPAA also had effects on clinical care as well. Research shows that health facilities are often uncertain of privacy restrictions, so that May be made for patients as a very reluctant to disclose individual information.

One of the most important areas of HIPAA for those with pre-existing is to cover the requirements in Title I. Title I of the Texas forces individual insurance companies to offer guaranteed issue Texas HIPAA portability of health insurance plans for TX residents who meet certain criteria. If you have any major pre-existing conditions and feel that you May be eligible for a TX HIPAA health insurance plan then be sure and speak with a licensed insurance agent health in Texas to verify your eligibility.



By: Bestinsurance George

About the Author:

Gone are the days when people used to carry their health records in unwieldy files when visiting a doctor. The advances in technology made it is possible to carry the entire documents in pocket-sized devices like CD-ROMs, pen drives and now on dedicated websites who take the responsibility of saving and updating medical data. To keep a track of our medical history and share and use it when necessary, we need to create a personal health record. Let us try to understand what personal health records can do for us and how can they make our life easy.

A personal health record is the consolidated information related to health; stored and managed by an individual. Today, personal health records are also popularly known as, personal health diary, patient health record, or personal medical records. While the concept of personal health records is not new, it has evolved from a stage when these records were stored by the medical professionals and health care providers; to a stage where each person today is keeping their health records by using various technologies such as websites, personal health software and so on. The primary purpose of personal health records is:

· To keep a track on personal health and

· To help the doctors for providing better care through the valuable health information.

Ideally, a personal health record should contain every single bit of information related to your health. The information stored in your personal health record may differ according to the software or service providers, but any personal health records will contain the crucial health information. Some of the most common parameters that a personal health record contains are as follows:

· Name of the patient, birth date, blood type

· Date of last physical tests or screenings

· Major illnesses or diseases occurred in past with dates

· List of medicines and dosages taken by you

· Allergies and chronic diseases

· History of illnesses in your family

This piece of information can be very important in case of emergencies and can save your life.

Personal health records have numerous benefits not only to the users but also to the health care systems and physicians. A detailed health record can be used by physicians to take important decisions in time of emergencies. Some of the significant benefits of personal health records are as follows:

· Empowering patients: personal health record allows the patients to access, update and verify their own medical records. With the use of personal health records, one can also set reminders for health maintenance services.

· Improves patient-doctors relationship: this is especially true when you have a family doctor or a physician to whom you frequently visits. Doctors find it easy to communicate with patients who own personal health records.

· Improves patient’s safety: As the patient keeps updating their health records, it helps them to identify missed procedures and services, drug alerts, and important test results.

· Delivers efficient care: personal health records also avoid duplicative testing and unwanted or unnecessary services.

· Cost-effective tool: patients can save huge amounts which are otherwise spent unnecessary on malpractice costs.

· Privacy: personal health records can be kept confidential by using passwords. Today, most of us want our health records to be safe and secure in our hands so that no one misuses it. Personal health records allow patients to keep their health documents safe and secured.

The list of benefits of maintaining personal health records is never-ending and personal health records are slowly and steadily becoming a basic necessity to keep ourselves and our beloved ones healthy. After all, a small initiative towards health can reap great rewards. So, step ahead and create your Personal Health Record!!!!



By: Jennifer Salerno

About the Author:

SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH HEALTH CARE

We hardly come across a person who may be fully satisfied with the health care delivery system run by either the government or the private sector. This is true not only for developing but for all the developed countries as well. Every law abiding, contributing individual has some legitimate expectations from the state. Disenchantment with present dispensation of health care compels people to seek better options across the borders. Even the present flow rate of patients from developed to developing countries has assumed the proportions of Medical tourism. Medical tourism is not a one-way traffic. Poor from India are known to visit Rashid Hospital at Lahore for kidney transplants. Medical tourism will definitely bring in world class equipment and services in our corporate hospitals. These corporate tertiary care hospitals can act as excellent referral hospitals. Lack of enough clinical material, as the patients are often referred to in medical parleyences is prompting the doctors from developed world into medical adventurism. Very recently two NGO’s headed by renowned plastic surgeons of Indian origin were in India, claiming to their credit hundreds of cleft lip and palate surgeries conducted in one week. During my brief interaction when I asked them one basic question that how do you justify single step surgery by a single specialist for a clinical entity that require 3-5 set up surgeries by 10 specialists over a period of 20 years, there was no answer. On record local doctors conduct all these surgeries. These NGO’s bring in a battery of trainee resident doctors for hands on training. Dumping of questionable services and drugs continues unabated in the absence of stringent regulations. Clear-cut up to date guidelines by health authorities have yet to be issued to safe guard the health interests of this nation. Most of the drugs banned in developed countries are still being dumped in the Indian market. Commerce alone dictates the policies of multinational companies in health sector of developing countries. State and national medical councils, the watch dogs of our national health interests are controlled by elected representatives from among the doctors. Competitive populism for being elected to these high offices takes away the very sting off these regulators. In this ‘market forces’ driven health sector, apart from other factors, size of the population, economic prosperity and literacy levels dictate the out look of key players. Subjective as well as objective assessments of the health care operations leave people confused with huge piles of data and endless interpretations. At the tail end of govt. health care delivery system is the rural dispensary or the slum revamping center, and the end user an illiterate or semi literate villager or a slum dweller. Dispensary is the humane face, the welfare state can present to its people. In yesteryears the service providers were from among the same social class they used to serve. Doctor can be a friend, philosopher and guide to the locals. Unfortunately the economic and social disparity between the service providing doctors and the service user population has grown enormously. Ad-hocism in health care delivery should be done away with immediate effect. Doctors and paramedical staff appointed on yearly contract basis are not showing any interest in the national programmes. Established private health care providers also have not shown any meaningful commitment for national programmes. Middle class itself has fragmented. Now it is fashionable to assign economic values to any issue like gender, but for social responsibility and justice. In this era of fast paced growth, the unorganized, silently suffering millions can not be wished away. Once reading on biodiversity I stumbled upon a very interesting quote, “only the species with economic importance will survive”. In our active pursuit for magnetizing economy, we assigned economic values to any thing except for morals. Commercialization of education has produced a new breed of professionals who have scant regard for professional ethics. Privatization is the buzzword with governments, because it takes away government responsibility. Private sector players are eyeing many ‘viable’ health institutions. There are no takers for commercially non-viable rural institutions. Rural health institutions dispense social medicine. Very recently one of the key players from private sector health care quoted the cost of developing one bed in corporate hospital at Rs. 30-60 lacs. These corporate health services are definitely out of each of the common man. These type of hospitals are definitely required for a nation with the present rate of growth but ‘bharat’ definitely needs different kind of hospitals. There are very strong social under currents against the exploitive private healthcare, inadequate government sector health care resources and the indifferent approach of welfare state. Health for all is a very lofty but expensive proposition. There are ways and means to reduce the pressure from government institutions. Private-public partnership, health insurance, monitoring and regulation of private sector health care can all make the things bit easy. Preventive health care education can go a long way in improving the public health. Community participation in health care has produced few but wonderful examples. Complementary community participation can make up for minor but critical deficiencies in the government run health care system. Setting up of health system corporations with World Bank assistance has already improved the working of govt. sector health care institutions considerably. Community participation through NGO’s can still improve the system, but most of the meaningful NGO’s turn their back on govt. run health care institutions because of their doubts on the integrity of government officers. Government health care institution are increasingly seen not as caring hospitals but like police stations, where medico legal reports are written and postmortems conducted. Most of the government doctors’ time is spent in courts appearing as medico legal experts witnesses. Emergency, post mortem, and then the VIP duties in addition hardly leave the doctors free for any meaningful job at government hospitals. There is an urgent need to have separate curative, preventive, legal, administrate and health intelligence wings. Government hospitals attract the poorest of the poor, mostly people from the unorganized sector. Their contribution to national GDP is by no means small. With the present growth rate, upward social mobility is seen in every strata of society. Many segments of this unorganized sector can be organised so that they also enjoy the patronage of welfare state in the form of health insurance policies. Apart from direct benefit to these segments of society, the state will benefit from the ‘off loading’ of burden from government run health care system and loading it on insurance driven private sector health care institutions. Poorest of the poor will repose faith in welfare state. Sanjivini, health insurance policy with the Punjab Milkmen Cooperative Societies is already a big success. ECHS (Ex servicemen Contributory Health Scheme) is an other success story. These success stories can be replicated with countless groups like, panwallas, dhabewallas, autorikshaw drivers etc. Simply organize the unorganized sector. There is no dearth of role models from among government doctors also. Their inclusion rather than drift after dissent from the present dispensation of health care will immensely improve the system. Stability of tenure is an excellent incentive government can give to its doctors without costing anything to exchequer. Yet tenure beyond decades should be discouraged as it leads to development of vested interests of the old incumbents and denial of chance to the youngsters. Resource mismatching is a major problem in the govt. run health care system. There are dispensaries where specialists are posted and still many more civil hospitals where non-specialist are posted. These mismatching result in defective and inefficient health care. Nodal Hospitals can be created for round the clock emergency services by cannibalizing defunct and sick institutions where equipment worth crores is lying unused and salary bills are bleeding the exchequer white. Most of the medical officers retire in the same administrate rank. This undue stagnation has forced many a brilliant doctors out of service. By simply seeking options for place of posting, honestly implementing with minimum displacement on merit can also revitalize the govt. doctors’ cadres. Private sector health care delivery system is a totally market driven commercial enterprise. So called ‘market forces’ have least respect for ethical and moral value systems. Multi level marketing chains have evolved in the name of referral systems. End result is exploitation of the unsuspecting common man, who still regards his healer a holy person. This ‘incentive’ system is strengthening the hold of unqualified, unscrupulous and unregistered medical practitioners on illiterate masses. Not many qualified doctors are unscrupulous. A large section of private health care providers feel genuinely threatened by blackmailers of all sorts. Consumer protection act is a very convenient beating stick in the hands of their tormentors.

Under the constant threat of being blackmailed, the private health care providers are becoming more defensive in attitude. More patients are being referred to tertiary care institutions for this reason only, thereby flooding the referral institutions. People have a common feeling that sickness is an invitation for exploitation at the hands of private health care providers. Even the charitable hospitals are charging as heavily as fully private hospitals. Medical profession is fully responsible and capable of self-correction. Medical councils and associations can jointly evolve a fail-safe mechanism to keep their black sheep under check even without government help, but the buck stops with the government. Welfare state is duty bound not only in providing health care delivery system but also proper health care administration and social justice through its health care delivery mechanism.

Name : Dr. Pardeep Kumar Sharma

Email-ID : omfspardeep@yahoo.com.

(M) : 0988456296

Date of Birth : 12.02.1962

Education Qualifications : BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)

MDS (Master of Dental Surgery in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)

Educational Institutes Attended

Govt. High School Bargari : Matriculation (1969-1977)

Distt. Faridkot, Punjab, India

DAV College Chandigarh : Pre-University (1973-79)

(Punjab University)

Barjindra College Faridkot : Pre-Medical (1980)

Dental Wing, Medical College : BDS (1981-1986)

Patiala

Dental College and Hospital : MDS (2003-2006)

Amritsar

Professional Experience

House Officer, Christian : 1987-1988

Medical College & Hospital,

Ludhiana

Research Officer, All India : Jan. 1989 to June 1989

Institute of Medical Science

AIIIMS, New Delhi

Dental Officer, Indian Armed : July 1989 to August 1994.

Forces in the Rank of Capt.

3

Medical Officer (Dental) : w.e.f. Nov. 1995 till date

in Punjab Civil Medical Service

(PCMS)

Research papers Published

“Role of Programmed cell death in dental anomalies associated with cleft lip and Palate”. “Medical Hypotheses” Churchil Living Stone Publishers London-1991

Post traumatic polatoglossal adhesion, a case report stomatologica India (1990).

Research Project Undertakes

“Malocclusion and associated Factors among Delhi Children” a study sponsored by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Areas of Interest : Environment, Health, Defence, International Affairs and Rationalism



By: Pardeep Kumar Sharma

About the Author:

A Family Health insurance offers you medical coverage and various health care benefits in case of unforeseen circumstances. The family health insurance and coverage takes into account the entire health care expenses and long-term nursing or custodial care requirements. To ensure the security of your family, it is imperative that you choose the right health insurance coverage.

Whether you are looking for family health insurance coverage or group health insurance coverage, opt for policies that provide optimum health care benefits at affordable premiums. The health care premium plays an important role while deciding on a health insurance. But always give importance to health insurance benefits and coverage.

The leading health insurance companies today offer group health insurance and family health insurance coverage with affordable premiums. With increasing heath care costs and greater awareness, people are now buying health insurance like never before. To make the most of this huge scope, the insurance companies are concocting various innovative health insurance plans, such as the floater concept and optimum tax saving plans.

The floater insurance is ideal for family’s health care needs. It covers the entire family under one insurance policy and one premium. The benefits/ coverage are shared by all the members of the family.

With so many plans in the market, it is important you choose the one that suits you the best wisely. Compare the rates and premiums at which these insurance policies are offered. Also compare the coverage and benefits included. Choose the health insurance plan that satisfies all your health care needs at the best premium. Also check for other benefits, offers or discounts available along with the health insurance plans. These may include free health check up or easy payment facilities.

Apart from affordable premiums, most of the health insurance companies offer a family health insurance plan on a cashless basis. Under cashless settlement of claims, the insurance company pays off the health care institute or hospital directly. Thus, you get the benefit of handling your finances and saving better. The insurance companies offer a range of insurance policies that differ in their extent of coverage. The premium also varies accordingly.

A basic family health insurance coverage includes costs of medical care and treatment of ailments and accidents that need hospitalization. Some insurance companies also offer critical illness coverage. Family health insurance plans also include benefits of tax exemption as stated under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.

 



By: Laxmi Wadhwa

About the Author:

Natural Health is Quality Health

In our hectic day to day world, our health is becoming a more important factor in merely keeping pace with the expectations that are demanded of us. More than 65% of Americans are actively seeking new ways to boost energy, contribute to their health in natural and effective ways, or to rearrange their lifestyle to bring more of nature’s balance to the forefront of their daily lives. Natural health carries a wide variety of interpretations, but everyone can agree that natural health is always the preference to chemically induced—symptom covering—pseudo health.

Finding Natural Health Products that Work

Business is booming in the natural health industry and of course there are ample products out there claiming to provide the benefits of natural health while providing a strong foot hold for energy increase and immune system balance. It can be difficult to find natural health products that live up to their promises. Many “energy drinks” on the market today provide nothing more than a significant amount of B 12 vitamin complexes and caffeine to make you feel as though you have a tremendous amount of energy, at least until that inevitable crash hits. It is not uncommon for those interested in finding natural health products that produce more energy and help balance out the body’s natural system to purchase the realm of available products only to find themselves discouraged and dissatisfied with the result. The average household can spend upwards of $700 per year trying out new products that claim to boost energy, revitalize the immune system, and provide a balanced and essential combination of natural ingredients to enhance mental and physical performance and still not find a product that they are satisfied with.

Many companies make a lot of promises. Whenever there is a new trend in the health market, there are more companies than a consumer can research ready and willing to market the next big miracle in natural health products. For consumers, relying on advertisements becomes a guessing game of integrity, and few companies deliver.

Natural Health Energy

Natural health energy comes from a high level of nutrition balanced with good habits and products that are formulated for providing long term energy derived from natural sources. Of course, caffeine is technically considered a “natural source” and consumers are advised to check the labels if they choose a different method of boosting their energy level. If a consumer is searching for a natural health energy product, their available choices shrink down to about literally ten different products. This type of energy is delivered to the body in a metabolizing manner that the body can process for real, honest results and a higher level of bodily care. Taking care of the body is definitely one guaranteed way to gain more energy.

Synthetic Health vs. Natural Health

With energy products marketed all over the place, there is a question for the results oriented individual whether there is a significant difference between synthetic health products versus natural health products. For some consumers, the only thing that matters is the bottom line; does it boost a person’s energy? An energy boost may be more important to some consumers than the origination of the product or how it is made. In all relevant studies, products that are designed around the natural health principles are able to deliver better results than those made of synthetic materials. It’s not rocket science. Any natural material is going to be absorbed more effectively and efficiently by the cellular structure of the human body than the man made synthetic components. This is true whether you are talking about energy products, health products, or even vitamins. Anything derived from a natural source is bound to provide a better platform for the body to absorb the potential benefits.

Natural health products that are designed to stabilize immunity and provide an increase in long term and short term energy generally have the additional effect of promoting youthful qualities in the body. The ability to eliminate free radicals and other age promoting factors is often a semi—intentional side effect of creating a natural health product that is so distinctly balanced.

Natural Health that Originates in History

As our productive powers, our technological advancements, and our societal expectations leap into the future, many scientists, physicians, and researchers are now starting to look backward to find answers to some of today’s most asked questions. Good health is not an accident. There are many cultures throughout the world that have been able to maintain a very high standard of health without the interference of Western medicine. Our technologically sound advancements now allow for enhanced study of these cultures, practices, and their traditional herbal and natural health remedies. There has been a great amount of success in bringing forth these historical facts and introducing them into our present day society.

Thus, everything we have learned so far as a society about natural health, rejuvenating the body’s cells and spirit, and of course, enhancing health and energy can be traced back to the historical ancestors of yester—year. Combining this new found age old information with the technology of today allows for the mass production of some of the most impressive natural health solutions to date.

Choosing Natural Health Products

When consumers choose natural health products, especially those with a claim for enhancing energy, most find that the research they can do on their own is sufficient provided they stick to all natural products. Natural health energy offers consumers a more advanced choice in today’s world of relentless media advertisements and self induced pressure to find the right product right away. Consumers need to be mindful of the fact that their choice of a natural health product is something that they are likely to introduce into their body on a daily basis, and thus their research should be thorough, involve a small amount of patience, and be able to be backed by an independent source.



By: shannon lokker

About the Author:

Medical tourism has definitely elevated the profession of medical sciences to a great extent. People from various countries like the United States and the UK and from some European countries visit places that offer qualitative yet economical medical services. And medical tourism Mexico is one such destination that offers treatment to its patients with care. This is possible only because of the advancement in the field of medical sciences and information technology.

Thanks to the accessibility of internet technology and the information offered on it the person is enabled to get details of various medical procedures that one has to undergo. Moreover, medical tourism has become successful because of the lower traveling and treatment rates. Well you will be surprised to know that medical tourism Mexico is the world’s foremost country to provide treatment to international patients. Hence, you can say that it offers good and inexpensive medical services to people seeking treatment for various diseases. Well you must be aware that medical tourism is an act of traveling to other country to obtain medical, dental and surgical care. And medical tourism Mexico is an ideal destination to get treated well with world class services. The hospitals in Mexico offer treatments for both invasive and non-invasive surgeries. They also provide medical facilities like operating rooms and minor operating rooms, radiology services, laboratory, pharmacy, day procedure unit, health screening services, radiotherapy and chemotherapy services, IVF services, haemodialysis, physiotherapy and dental services.

Along with these services, the hospitals are also well equipped and take care of accommodation as well as miscellaneous services, including the cafeteria and retail facilities in the hospitals. In addition, the medical tourism in Mexico tops in offering high technology eye-surgeries. The hospitals here are associated with various national and international health organizations, including the United States and the UK. Though, hospital accreditation on the American model is slow, but standards in testing and laboratory monitoring have been harmonized across the Canadian, US and Mexican area. However, various big and small hospitals are member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation that guaranties verifiable standards within accredited institutions. In fact, medical tourism

Mexico is a perfect place to get treated for various dental and cosmetic surgeries. You will find the best qualified practitioners here. Even the cosmetic surgery offered by medical tourism Mexico costs quite a less in comparison to other countries. Moreover, the cosmetic surgeons offer recuperation accommodation away from the bustle of busy urban centers that one usually comes across in other countries. Hence, if you are considering traveling for medical treatment, then Mexico is a place to be, as it offers a chance to obtain high quality treatment and that too on economical rates. But this does not mean that the treatment is not good in fact, it is better than many hospitals that operate in various countries. Moreover, medical tourism in Mexico offers airport pick up and drop, hotel accommodation for relatives, site seeing tours, shopping, prior appointments with the consultants, and information brochure on arrival to the hospital, and prayer rooms along with internet facilities.



By: Sarah wilson

About the Author:

Being in poor health seems like a nightmare for you due to expensive treatments and unavailability of desired and affordable services. People, who still avoid taking proper treatment due to these problems, can now take breath of relief, as medical tourism is there to provide them with affordable medical care as well as opportunity to explore new countries. Definitely, the lure of low cost and high tech services is a main reason that is making people desperate to pack their bags. While medical tourism is getting great hype by newspapers, magazines and T.V channels, most people are still unaware that it is becoming the integral part of every major hospital in numerous countries. Countries like India, Thailand, and Singapore are offering exclusive tourism cum medical vacations. No doubt that these countries have plenty of hospitals and clinics those are equipped with every latest technology and apparatus to support their services.

Every year more and more patients from all over the world are planning their vacations to get highly specialized and cost effective medical services. U.S. residents, who do not come under any insurance service, are considering overseas medical services more promising. As any insurance company is not liable to bear their medical expenses, they find it better to have treatment in abroad with less expenditure. Medical services in these destination countries are same as other developed countries; so why to pay more if you are getting same services with supplementary advantages. In some countries treatments are supported by refined research therefore, patients who are coming all the way from western developed countries may build up confidence in their treatments and services.

In order to provide best health solutions hospitals of destination countries motivate their staff to speak English so that all members of staff may communicate well with international patients. Additionally, some hospitals offer a vacation incentive to make the deal more attractive. Few years back, medical tourism was not as popular as it was lacking many services and treatment. However, with passing time and involvement of cosmetic, plastic, or elective surgery, more and more people are booking their packages for medical tourism. Today patients are also receiving life-saving medical operations such as heart surgery, brain surgery and disorder treatment. Hip replacements, cancer treatments and fertility work, have also become quite accepted in recent years. It is more affordable then your domestic health care even when you include airfare, hotels, travel insurance, car rentals, shopping, and dining. Therefore, is it not an excellent opportunity to maximize health benefits as well touring.

It is true that some destinations offer measures that are not available in many Western countries. For example, hip resurfacing was only treatment that was just permitted by FDI. Surprisingly it is available in most of the hospitals of these destination countries. The entire credit of this development goes to information technology that made medical tourism more affordable and globally available. International journey and main progress in medical science, medical tourism is becoming a well versed global trend. In fact, medical tourism is there to benefit international patients. People who are interested in knowing more about it can search on related websites on internet to get better options.



By: Sarah wilson

About the Author:

With all of the diseases that mosquitoes transmit, it’s medical science against the mosquitoes, and we have to fight hard just to stay even. Herein, a potpourri of facts about one of nature’s most notorious blood-sucking pests.

One way to kill a mosquito, if you happen to catch it biting you on a convenient location such as the bicep of the arm, is to tense your skin to trap its little proboscis in your skin, then flex your bicep muscle. This apparently causes the mosquito to burst because of the pressure from your blood vessel, kind of like if you tried to drink from a fire hose. Amongst other experts, this fact has been confirmed by none other than Cecil Adams of the famous “Straight Dope” newspaper column. But even at that his conclusion was: “What’s the point?”

Amongst some of the more unusual treatments for mosquito bite, some doctors say that applying a liquid antacid such as Mylanta is effective in relieving the itch and swelling of a mosquito bite. This is because it reduces the acidity of the anticoagulant chemicals in the mosquito’s saliva.

The Japanese believe that being reincarnated as a mosquito is the punishment for living a criminal life. Thus, the fate of the immoral in the next life is to be a worthless plague on humanity, despised by all and eventually swatted.

Part of the reason mosquitoes are so hard to eradicate is that the mosquito’s total lifespan, going by the average among all species, is only about twenty days after hatching anyway. Some even make it through their complete life cycle in just four days, not counting time spent as an egg. Nature has crafted the mosquito body to be a hyper-efficient machine designed only to eat, lay eggs, and die. The mosquito’s eggs, however, can last a whole year before hatching.

The current best estimates are that there are about 2500 species of mosquitoes on planet Earth, with some 300 of them being known carriers of diseases dangerous to humans. Statistically, 70 million people worldwide catch diseases from mosquito bites every year.

Studies of mosquito bite patterns on humans have suggested that the people most likely to be bitten are overweight males with type ‘O’ blood. No one knows why, beyond hazard guesses as too taste.

The annoying buzz of a mosquito’s wings is said to be between the musical keys of D and F. This is told to us by those folks who are gifted with perfect pitch.

Even after years of research into alternative insecticides, the most effective method of malaria control in the third world is the insecticide DDT. However, like viruses which become immune to antibiotics, mosquitoes in these countries where DDT has been applied the most are starting to show a greater resistance to the insecticide. This has come to be famously cited by biologists as evidence of rapid evolution.

In a test of natural plants to see which ones repel mosquitoes the best, it was discovered that clove oil is the closest to being effective. Which is too bad, since it is also toxic to human skin! Oils from many other plants, including rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, bergamont, bay, pennyroyal, cinnamon, cedar and geranium have all proven to be a tiny bit effective for brief periods of time up to an hour.

The World Mosquito Killing Championships (WMKC) is an annual event in Pelkosenniemi, Finland. As you might guess, the object is to kill as many mosquitoes as possible by hand in five minutes; no machines or chemicals allowed. The holder of the World and Guinness record for mosquito killing is one Henri Pellonpaa, for killing 21 at the 1995 championship. This broke the previous record of just seven.

The Iroquois Indians have a legend of the mosquito. The story goes that originally there were just two mosquitoes, but they were giant creatures as tall as a pine tree and they attacked and ate people. A bunch of braves surrounded them one day and finally killed them, but as the blood of the beasts touched the ground, a swarm composed of millions of tiny mosquitoes sprung up from it. The little ones bite us today because they crave revenge for their ancestor’s defeat.

Male mosquitoes tend to hatch faster than female mosquitoes, and they also have an even shorter life span. Only the females suck blood; the males live on fruit nectar and do not bite creatures. Furthermore, the females only go looking for a blood meal in order to generate enough protein to lay eggs.

In world history, the only major engineering feat hampered entirely by insects is the digging of the Panama canal project, during which mosquitoes contributed to the malaria deaths of almost 22,000 French workers in the years 1881 to 1889. It was not until after the project was abandoned and sold to the United States that it was completed, but at the expense of over 5000 more lives, despite the precautions the United States took.

It is said that the reason mosquitoes attack our ankles is simply because the odor of our sweat is at its strongest there, and the scent of sweat is one of the chief ways mosquitoes locate their prey. It also might have something to do with the fact that our eyes and ears are at the other end of our bodies, which makes for a stealthy attack.

Most naturists believe that mosquitoes are one of the few species which would make little impact on the global environment, if they all were to suddenly become extinct. There is no predator who relies solely on mosquitoes for its diet, nor is there any essential service, such as pollination, provided solely by mosquitoes.

Amongst teenage cell phone users, a popular ring tone recently discovered is the “mosquito” one, which is a high-pitched tone that only the very young can hear. This is due to the fact that human’s ability to hear high-frequency ranges decreases with age. The tone was accidentally introduced by convenience stores in the UK, where they originally broadcast the tone in an effort to keep teenagers from loitering out in front of the store. The device which played the tone was also called “the mosquito”. Oh, the irony!



By: Josh Stone

About the Author:

Copyright (c) 2007 SharpBrains

The Aspen Health Forum just gathered an impressive group of around 250 people to discuss the most pressing issues in Health and Medical Science.

1- Global health problems require the attention of the scientific community. Richard Klausner encouraged the scientific community to focus on Global Problems: maternal mortality rates, HIV/ AIDS, clean water, cancer…

2- “Let’s get real…Ideology kills”. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, on what it takes to stop HIV/ AIDS: “I am from Ireland, a Catholic country. And I am Catholic. But I can see how ideology kills..we need more empathy with reality, and to work with local women in those countries.” This session included a fascinating exchange where Bill Frist rose from the audience to defend the role of US aid, explaining how 60% of retroviral drugs in African countries have been funded by the American taxpayer. Which made Nobel Prize Laureate Peter Agre, also in the audience, stand up and encourage the US to really step up to the plate and devote 1% of the GDP to aid, as a number of European countries do, instead of 0.1%.

3- Where is the new “Sputnik”?: Many of the speakers had been inspired by the Sputnik and the Apollo missions to become scientists. Two Nobel Prize Laureates talked about their lives and careers trying to demystify what it takes to be a scientist and to win a Nobel Prize. Both are grateful to the taxpayers dollars that funded their research, and insist we must do a better job at explaining the scientific process to society at large. Both are proud of having attended small liberal arts colleges, and having evolved from there, fueled by their great curiosity and unpredictable, serendipitous paths, into launching new scientific and medical fields.

4- We need a true Health Care Culture: Mark Ganz summarized it best by explaining how his health provider group improved care when they redefined themselves from “we are 7,000 employees” to “we are a 3 million strong community”, moving from being a cost controller with a paternalistic attitude to a health facilitator, looking underneath symptoms to identify and deal with underlying patterns.

5- You can’t manage what you can’t measure. We heard many times how defining and measuring outcomes, so common in the private sector, is critical to ensuring a good allocation of resources in the health and scientific fields, that use so much taxpayer money. For example. NIH funding grew from $9B in 1994 to $29B in 2007, yet the results are not clear. The same happened with health care as a whole, a sector that now consumes 16% of the US GDP with health outcomes (infant mortality, patient deaths in hospitals) worse than other countries that invest far less.

6- The rising role of public-private partnerships: There are multiple initiatives launched to bridge the increasing gap between academia and industry. The Foundation for the NIH has facilitated key conversation between the FDA and pharma companies. The Gates and Clinton Foundations have launched innovative partnership models to tackle global health problems.

7- From Lifespan to Health-span. Population distribution in developed countries is shifting from a “population pyramid” to a “population rectangle”. The point of much ongoing research is not “how to spend more time on the nursing home” but how to slow down the process of aging, so we can live healthier longer.

8- Patient-advocacy groups are having an impact. We heard many examples on how small groups of motivated individuals have built large patient advocate movements that influence public policy. Michael Milken talked about the Cancer March, that helped increase NIH funding from $1.5B to 5$B. Hala Moddelmog, from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, explained how they have 1 million people engaged in promoting cancer research and prevention. Robert Klein, key advocate of the California Proposition 71 (that will provide $6B for stem cell research through long-term bonds) explained how the proposition was passed, including engaging over 80 patient-advocacy groups.

9- There’s a new emphasis on understanding “how systems work” instead of “how isolated genes make things happen on their own”: Genomics is starting to help predict susceptibility to disease and to therapies. Now, we must keep in mind the role of our experience and environment in turning some genes on or off.

10- The importance of our Lifestyle-Each of us owns our own health. 70% of heathcare costs derive from lifestyle-related diseases (such as smoking-induced cancer). We heard several calls to action for insurance companies to incentivize behavior modification to promote good lifestyle habits that improve quality of life and can delay disease symptoms, resulting in billions of dollars of cost savings.

In short, a very stimulating inaugural 3-day conference. I hope the one next year is even better.



By: Alvaro Fernandez

About the Author:

College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University(Representative : Kwang Yul Cha M.D) & CHA Medical Group’s biotechnology venture business, CHA Biotech(Board of Director: Kwang Yul Cha) was established for the development of cell therapy using stem cell that is so-called the “Flower of the Medical Science” in September 2000. CHA Biotec, led by Kwang Yul Cha, is now promoting to form large-scale stem cell institute in both U.S and Korea by building CHA Medical Stem Cell Institute organized of 180 professionals focusing on stem cell treatment and cord blood deposit and transplantation. CHA Medical Group led by Kwang Yul Cha M.D will start constructing ‘CHA Institute’ in 2009 at Pangyo Techno Valley and it is scheduled to open in 2010.

‘CHA Group Stem Cell Institute’ has not only research facilities such as stem cell institute, GMP grade sterile culture room which can make the medicines, cord blood bank, immunity vaccine institute, artificial internal organ institute but also life science school, medical school to train professionals. After Stem cell institute is completed, it will be equipped with Lab to Patient System which can pursue clinical demonstration at Bundang CHA Hospital immediately from latest research. And it is expected to joint research with the world’s leading research institute in the stem cell institute. They planned to promote cooperating with the world’s famous stem cell institute such as UCLA(University of California at Los Angeles), Columbia University, Alabama State University , Rice University, University of Southern California, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Harvard University McLean Hospital etc.

And few months ago, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University (representative: Kwang Yul Cha M.D) held “The 5th Pacific Rim Society for Fertility and Sterility” in Dynasty Hall, Seoul Shilla Hotel from June 9th~10th to conquer the low birth late, inviting the world’s foremost scholars in the field of sterilization and reproductive medicine. ‘The 5th Pacific Rim Society for Fertility and Sterility’ held by CHA Medical Group(Representative : Kwang Yul Cha) is hosted by three leading institute; The Korean Society of Fertility & Sterility, The Korean Society of preservative reproductive medicine, and The Korean Society of Developmetal Biology. Nationally and internationally well-known authorities on the field of Sterilization and reproductive medicine from Korea, United States, and Japan announced their papers and about 500 participants from Thailand, India, Vietnam and Nepal enlighten the conference.

At first day of the conference, representative Cha Kwang Yul read the paper ‘Slush Nitrogen Ovum Freezing method’ that received ‘The Best Paper Award’ from ‘World Society for Reproductive Medicine’ and the head manager of Stem Cell Institute, Hyung-Min Jung made presentation over embryonic cell and was greeted enthusiastically by the participants. The survival rate of ovum is about 50 percents when applying the Existing Ovum Freezing Method. On the other hand, Slush-Nitrogen Ovum Freezing Method raise the survival rate to over 90 percents that it initiated the way to activate the ovum bank.

Stem Cell Production Capacity: CHA Medical Group(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) created total 12 Human Embryonic Stem Cell and under the admission of the International Stem Cell Deliberate Council, CHA Medical Group(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) is planning to produce over 100 embryonic stem cell that are able to apply clinical demonstration using human supporting cell, serum and non-serum culture medium at GMP within 10 years.

World known cytogenesis capacity & ability: CHA Medical Group(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) is the first to success in recovering the damage of cranial nerves by transplanting the mice’s embyonic stem cell into alive one’s brain. Developed differentiation technology by using neuron, vascular Endothelial, Cartilage Cell, Endocrine Cell, and Heart muscle cells.

Gene Manipulation in Human embryonic stem cell: By developing technology that can induct specific gene into Human Embryonic Cell CHA Medical Group achieved cytogeny technology in specific cell, Human Embryonic Stem Cell production, medicinal screening method, Tumor Suppressor Technology, and interpreting the function of the specific gene.

Gene Therapy ability: Found cancer cell suppressor protein and enzyme gene called ‘mHAUSP’ that operates the cancer-suppressing activity. Now researches on therapy and clinical test on progressing.

Artificial organ production ability: By Utilizing embryonic stem call and adult stem cell developed biodegradable tissue, instestine and Scaffold, Researches on three-dimensional artificial tissue and intestine production is in advance.

Leading the Cell Therapy Product market using stem cell: If applied-technology such as cytogenesis and cell therapy utilizing embryonic stem cell is practically use, size of over 600 billion won market will be created. To treat specific diseases(Leukemia, Diabetes, urinary incontinece, stroke) cell differentiation inducement and establishing stem cell lines bank using Embryonic Stem Cell and Adult Stem Cell is promoted.

Researches on Sterility & Stem Cell Security is guaranteed by running ‘Human Ovum Freezing Bank: ‘Slushed-Nitrogen Ovum Freezing Method’ has survival rate over 90 percents and pregnancy rate is over 65%, too. The method described above is known as world’s best technology that has similar reproduction ability to general ovum. CHA Biotech (Board of Director:Kwang Yul Cha) became the leader of this field by steadily executing safe and moral stem cell and medical treatment on sterility by running freezing bank.

CHA Regenerative Medical Institute, awarded the grant “Patient-Specific Stem Cell Production”: Awarded the grant related to patient-specific stem cell production using somac cell reproduction from WIRB in June, 2006. Using Human ovum Freezing Bank, developing patient-specific stem cell production and treatment technology is their aim.

==Who is ”Kwang-Yul Cha”?==

Kwang Yul Cha is certified Obstetrics and Gynecology by College of Medicine, Yonsei University-Board. He is the president of Infertility Medical Center, CHA General Hospital, Chancellor of the College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University and Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. College of Medicine, Columbia University. Kwang Yul Cha Published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

※About Kwang Yul Cha, MD, PhD

-MD, Yonsei University School of Medicine

-PhD, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine

-Reproductive Endocrinology Specialist

-Fellowship, USC

-Visiting Professor, Columbia University School of Medicine

-Chancellor, Pochon CHA University (present)

-CEO, CHA HEALTH SYSTEMS, Inc. (present)

-Chairman, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (present)

-Director, CHA RMI (present)

-Co-Director, CHA Stem Cell Institute, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine (present)

-80 international papers and 200domestic papers, 15 books, 3 patents



By: Kwang Yul Cha

About the Author:

Medical referral services help to find a local physician. With the help of medical referral services, patients can register for community medical events, listen to health expert speakers, and learn about a variety of other health and medical services.

Public can use American Academy of Pediatrics or AAP Referral Service, to gain quick information on pediatricians. The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is to provide best physical, mental, and social health to all infants, children, adolescents, and adults.

The Academy has 60,000 members for this purpose. They provide comprehensive lists of pediatricians, pediatric medical sub-specialists, and pediatric surgical specialists.

Global health service providers such as International Medical Referral & Evaluation find the most suitable specialists offering medical services to treat all the medical problems. The health provider takes full responsibility on coordinating treatment, getting MOH (ministry of health) approval and provisions of travel arrangements.

Such types of medical services have an expertise database with the best collection of tools to match with the skills of various medical experts across the globe to solve definite medical problems.

Medical Second Opinion:

Medical second opinion is the procedure to look for an assessment by some another physician or surgeon to verify the diagnosis and treatment plan of a primary physician, or to provide optional diagnosis or treatment plans.

In recent times, Americans are taking more responsibility to take care of their health on their own, as several Americans are familiar with various medical problems and their treatment options. They have started playing an active role in every decision with their doctors. Hence, an ever-increasing number of people are seeking medical second opinions.

Due to the increasing medical facts and new treatments, it is very difficult for almost every physician to get familiar with all the latest information originating in the world of medical science. Medical second opinion is the way, which patients and physicians can seek together to discuss regarding diagnosis and treatment options for various severe ailments. However, a second opinion is probably a good idea if a patient is supposed to undergo major surgery, or is unhappy with regular doctor, no improvement in medical condition, and multiple medical problems.



By: Marcia Henin

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The Internet can be a wonderful tool for those who are searching for information, but when it comes to medical and health information it is especially important to be sure that the advice that you are getting can be trusted. That is where the Health On the Net (HON) Foundation comes in.

The HON Foundation is a not for profit organization that has been in operation since 1995. Its aim is to promote useful, reliable medical information on the internet, and it was created by a group of sixty experts, including surgeons and World Health Organization (WHO) senior representatives.

They continue to operate as a respected, not for profit foundation based in Geneva, with the co-operation of the University Hospitals of Geneva, and the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.

They achieve their aims through HONcode accreditation. This is granted to sites who meet a strict set of principles, as laid out on the website. The principles cover such things as transparency of financial ties, attribution to original authors, and a requirement that advertisements be clearly distinguished from other pieces. Also, and perhaps more importantly, all claims of performance and results must be backed up.

A site that wishes to be accredited must first apply, and once assessed as meeting the criteria and supporting the principles of the HON Foundation, may display the HONcode seal. It will also be included in the HON network of sites that you can search for particular terms directly from the website-so excluding any sites that are not accredited.

Sites that carry the seal are subject to future inspections and may be instructed that they have to make changes if they wish to retain their accreditation. Failure to comply with requested changes will cost a site its accreditation.

The HON home site includes a downloadable tool bar that you can install, that will tell you when a medical site that you are visiting carries HONcode accreditation, making it easier for you to see. Thus, when you are searching through a search engine rather than their homepage, you will still know when a site can be trusted.

There is a news section allowing you to keep up to date with relevant health news, and images collection that allows you to search various categories of images. HONSelect allows you to search more specific health terms to explore, accessing articles, news and websites.

What this means for you is that there is a collection of sites that have passed strict standards and thus are more likely to be trustworthy. They won’t simply be trying to push a series of gimmicky or unproven drugs, but sites that have scientific backing, and contain genuine and useful information that you can rely upon.

It has long been acknowledged that just because a claim has been made on a web site, it doesn’t make it true. With an HONCode accredited site however, you can be sure that any and all claims that are made have the backing of medical science, and that the opinion of the site hasn’t simply been bought by a company with an agenda.



By: Gary Bryant

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When medical professionals enter their career, they have to be careful when diagnosing a patient. Often times, symptoms of one illness can be having symptoms to another illness. It’s because of this that doctors have to be very careful and provide an accurate diagnosis, combine that with the right type of treatment of medicine.

Bronchitis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes are irritated and inflamed. There are three specific categories of bronchitis including acute, chronic and bronchiectasis.

Bronchitis remains a large threat to public health, ranking fourth among causes of death. A new strain recently revealed is making treating this disease even harder because of its nature. The newly discovered strain is even nastier in that it can resist conventional medicines. It’s forcing doctors to revise their techniques pertaining to both illness of pneumonia and bronchitis.

Coupled with data that is unusable by the time it’s ready to be tested, doctors rely on patient’s physical examinations to diagnosis the disease. Often they make the diagnosis based on what they see or observe in patients but scientific approaches are still important for the antimicrobial therapy design.

Antibiotics must meet certain criteria including effectiveness in its treatment, the safety of drugs, cost-effectiveness and convenience. Doctors feel the ideal antibiotic would treat all of the following:

Offer action against primary organisms

Pharmacokinetic

best possible pharmacologic

Experimental response rates are soaring

Penetration of tissue

Drug interaction low

Low or no side effects

Bacteria resistance is slow in developing.

Traditional antibiotics include the ever accepted Amoxicillin, macrolides and cephalosporins and greatly used in the antimircobial therapy. Yet, there usefulness fluctuates along with its resistance frequency.

In the late 1990’s, two medicines called gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin were released which offered better options for the respiratory treatments. When new drugs are introduced, others are often removed because of certain dangerous side effects.

Physicians and doctors must have a immense appreciativeness of the organisms so they can know how to manage tracheal bronchitis and many other respiratory illnesses. They must also be acutely aware of all of the therapies effective enough to treat the disease.

Nowadays, there is some controversy with how to treat the disease. Some doctors feel it is in the best interest of the patient to use no medicine treatment therapy especially when a cough does not last for more than five days. Others feel medicinal therapy is the way to go. Patients are typically treated rather quickly. Since most feel that paying for a doctor’s consultation entitles them to antibiotics but it’s the doctor’s job to edify his patients they should not hurry to the doctor if they have a cough for one day or two. Doctors usually say waiting 5 to 7 days is best because then if it is bronchitis, you can tell. This means if you have a viral infection and severe cough. Once the infection goes away and the cough stays, that’s the instance to visit the doctor. If you give viral infections antibiotics, resistance can build up, leaving you with nothing to use for medicine.

If someone has tracheal bronchitis and the cough is in conjunction with sputum; however there is no fever, pneumonia, COPD or emphysema, it is likely the physician will prescribe medicine to knock out the symptoms, getting the patient back on the road to recovery.

Studies are undergoing to develop better treatments and antibiotics to combat the tracheal bronchitis. Here is hoping that before the nasty bacteria settles in the tubes that the new medicines are already out on the market.



By: Abhishek Agarwal

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