Why Hospice? Many families insist on caring for loved ones at home upon that person’s diagnosis with a life threatening illness. That is a very very noble gesture and most of us would be comforted knowing that our loved ones would be able to rise to that occasion. The reality is,however, that even the most well-intentioned and loving families cannot face this challenge on their own. Instead of spending those last weeks and months of …
As a patient you absorb a lot less information when you are anxious, scared, vulnerable, in pain, medicated, immobilized, unconscious, drowsy and/or undressed. In such scenarios, ask a trusted family member or friend to be your patient advocate when you enter the health care system. Plan on keeping your advocate with you at all times, even overnight, if you are going to need hospitalization. You will be able to rest much better. Your advocate can …
The Need for ICU: Being in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a very scary and frightening experience. Patients are there because they are critically ill. There are many types of ICU’s, including Medical, Surgical, Neuro(logical) , Cardiac/Coronary, Pediatric & Neonatal. Patients in Medical ICU’s may have conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, complications from diabetes, gall bladder disease, bleeding ulcers, etc. The Surgical ICU cares for post-operative patients who require critical intensive care. …
As a health care consumer seeking emergency room (ER) care for yourself or someone you are advocating for, you may consider an Urgent Care Center as a viable alternative to the ER if the ailment is not potentially life-threatening. Most of these centers are open 365 days per year from 8:00am to 8:00pm. The doctors who examine you will be either Family Practitioners or trained ER doctors. Basic laboratory work can be done and most …
