Health matters, living life to the fullest

 Perhaps your a young person who enjoys sports, athletic and in perfect health.  Then again you might be elderly with several medical conditions like cardiac, blood pressue, diabetes, or high cholesterol.  Every one has some kind of health issue which consumes them on a day to day basis.  It could be a first time expectant Mother, a young teenager with acne, a man with prostrate issues, a young lady who gained a pound over the weekend or an athlete pushing them selves in a race to better their time.

  What can we do to better our health if we have a disease no one can diagnose or disabled with debilitating conditions that vary day to day.  No matter what the issues, we can all begin to take charge of our health.

  To begin with, I've started this blog because I feel as a Registered Nurse I could help folks.  I personally have had my own issues with health which had me bed ridden for several years.  Although I no longer work, I still see folks who could use a little encouragement and I'd like to help by sharing my own story and listening to others.

  Each week I'll try and post a different perspective on the health issues I find people most interested in.  Before I begin I'd like every one to know they should always consult their Physician before beginning any exercise program or diet. Each person is an individual and what may work for one person may not work for someone else.  This week I'd like to discuss finding a good Physician you can work with as a team.

  What most people in Florida don't realize is the fact they can easily look up their perspective Physicians license on line to see where they went to school, and if they have any disciplinary actions against them by logging onto the Florida department of Health Tallahassee Florida licensing division.  Another good way to find out is to listen to those who have gone to that Physician in the past, or are seeing them presently.  How long was their wait time to get in? Did they allow you to make payments? How was the staff? Did they call with results of tests or did they have to call and ask?

  Once you've done your home work then it's time to check and see if they take your insurance.  Some Physicans will NOT take medicade but will take medicare.  Still others will only take "open" medicare and not the supplements.  Some may take one insurance but not the other.  If you have an HMO and need a specialist who you've used in the past will your new primary care physician allow you to continue care with that specialist or not?  Does your new Physician have hospital privaledges or do they use a hospitalist?  More and more Physicians are getting hospitalists to cover for them should their patients need to be hospitalized.  There's nothing like having to be admitted to a hospital only to find your Physician won't be there to care for you when you need him or her most.  Instead you may get the "hospitalist" on staff at that particular hospital.  Not fun!

  Medicine is changing rapidly in America. Gone are the days when your Physician knew the names of all your kids, where you worked, and would accept a freshly baked pie for payment when he/she came to your house.  Now most everything is done from a computer in an office where some highly paid CEO with little to no medical knowledge tends to dictate to you and your Physicians how long you can stay in a hospital and who can and can't be allowed to treat you. It's a sad reality but the truth.

 Then there's those on medicade who can't afford medical coverage.  Since very few Physicians accept it and those that do are often so booked up you may not get an appointment for weeks! If your having severe pain froma kidney stone you'll want to be seen immediately not 3 weeks from now!  Those people are then forced to use the local emergency rooms as their primary care physicians.  It's a serious problem which no one has the answer for.

  Getting a bit side tracked here but in actuality always do your home work before choosing a new Physician.  Once you have a Physician then make a list of questions to ask him during your first visit.  I always tell folks to make a few appointments through out the year. This way your able to work together as a team.  Test results, weight, etc can always be compared and if something is beginning to emerge your Physician will hopefully be able to catch it before it turns into something more serious.  Don't be afraid to ask questions or to make an earlier appointment if you see any changes in your health.  Only you know your body more then any one else.  Be your own advocate.