Tag Archives: health care

Bupa Health Foundation and Alzheimer’s Australia Announce UK Availability Of Brain Health App

The Bupa Health Foundation and Alzheimer’s Australia have announced the UK launch of a world-first brain health app, the latest digital tool to help in the fight against dementia.

Based on latest research that links brain health and a reduced risk of dementia, to a healthy heart and cardiovascular system, ‘BrainyApp’ is the first dementia risk reduction iPhone app designed to help people monitor and improve their brain-heart health.

The new app, which was designed by Alzheimer’s Australia and Bupa Health Foundation, has already knocked Facebook off the number one spot in the Australia and New Zealand Top Free Apps list and has clocked up more than 130,000 downloads down under.

Now available to people in the UK, ‘BrainyApp’ helps users monitor and improve the physical, mental, dietary and social aspects of their lifestyle.

There are currently 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this is predicted to rise to over a million by 2021. Delaying the onset of dementia by just five years would reduce deaths directly attributable to dementia by 30,000 a year.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Most people know how to reduce their risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke but they don’t realise that the same healthy lifestyle choices may also lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s diseaseand other kinds of dementia. The idea is that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.”

‘BrainyApp’ allows users to take a brain-heart health survey about their diet, exercise patterns and lifestyle. It then provides suggestions and ideas about how to make improvements to each. It also includes all-new brain games, and encourages users to build brain-heart points by staying physically and mentally active, socialising with friends and family, and sharing their progress on Facebook.

One of the brain games – ‘Word Tennis’ – requires players to unscramble anagrams in order to move a paddle and hit a ball back to their opponent.

Director of dementia care for Bupa Care Services, Dr Graham Stokes, said: “There is evidence to show that keeping the mind exercised can stave off the onset of dementia but ‘BrainyApp’ highlights that good physical health also has a part to play. Best of all it’s good fun.”

‘BrainyApp’ is available as a free download for users of iPhone, iPod and iPad devices from the App Store. There are plans to develop an Android version in early 2012.

More information about BrainyApp is available at www.bupa.co.uk/brainy-app.

Via EPR Network
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European Obesity Day 2010 Is Welcomed By Life Insurance Comparison Site Quoteboffin.co.uk

The 2010 European Obesity Day took place on Saturday May 22, and it is hoped that the campaign will raise the profile of the potentially life-threatening condition. As the first awareness day of its kind, life insurance site Quoteboffin.co.uk welcomed the event and is optimistic that it will help in the fight to reduce the problems associated with obesity in Europe.

One of the campaign’s central goals is to help the 50 per cent of Europeans who are overweight to shed 5 to 10 per cent of their body weight and cut obesity rates across 15 countries.

While the term obesity has become a well known one in the UK it is not in such common usage in other European countries, and it is hoped that the new awareness day will help countries increase public knowledge before the problem becomes rife. Among those participating are a high number of Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary and Latvia.

A spokesperson for Quoteboffin.co.uk voiced the company’s support for the campaign, saying that it represents a positive step forward when it comes to spreading the word about obesity and its dangers. They added: “Most people in the UK are aware of the problems that can be caused by obesity, but campaigns like this act as a great way for countries to share knowledge.

“What’s more, it’s important for people not to become complacent about things such as obesity. The fact that the term has become common knowledge in the UK means people could be in danger of accepting it as normal, whereas obesity remains a big threat to health.”

Via EPR Network
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Physician Offers Own Brand Of Affordable Insurance Alternative

Cedar Park family medicine physician Melissa J. Urrea, M.D. believes taking care of your health shouldn’t be a difficult financial decision. And while the recently-signed Health Care Bill mandates that all individuals will be required to obtain health insurance by 2014, that still leaves several years of challenging options on how to best obtain quality medical care. That’s why she recently introduced through her practice, Trinity Family Medicine, a pre-paid package of medical services. Trinity HealthSpan â„¢ provides access to comprehensive health care to uninsured and underinsured individuals and families.

Nearly one in four Central Texas residents currently lives with inadequate or no health insurance — and that statistic is expected to rise as a result of the recession. Dr. Urrea’s plan helps to  bridge the gap between the need for and access to quality health care services.

For an annual fee of less than $800, Trinity HealthSpan â„¢ provides:

  • An annual examination (including prostate screening)
  • Lab work (including a complete metabolic panel, diabetes screening, kidney and liver function screening, electrolyte evaluation, complete blood count, anemia evaluation, thyroid function evaluation, cholesterol and lipid panel, urinalysis, urine protein evaluation)
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG)
  • Tetanus vaccination
  • Influenza vaccination
  • Three routine office visits (including follow up for a particular disease/condition and sick visits)
  • Access to coordinated services (such as labs) at reduced rates

The concept for Trinity HealthSpan ™ originated when Dr. Urrea was challenged with managing the care of chronically ill individuals who had no or limited insurance or were self-employed. “For someone with a condition like diabetes, allergies or asthma, it is imperative to focus not only on disease management, but overall wellness,” said Dr. Urrea. “That involves multiple visits to a physician, along with moderate diagnostic testing to monitor the condition.”

As the recession affected more and more of her patients, Dr. Urrea consulted with her practice’s business manager to determine how they could assist their patients in maintaining regular access to care. The practice reached out to ancillary service providers like laboratories and negotiated reduced rates on behalf of patients who purchase the Trinity HealthSpan â„¢ package. Trinity HealthSpan â„¢ also connects patients with pharmacies offering low-cost, generic prescription plans. Local retailers like HEB and Target offer plans that provide medications for as little as $5 a month, which is actually less money than most insurance plan co-pays.

For an uninsured individual not participating in Trinity HealthSpan ™ , the cost of the pre-paid package of services would be $1,050. Similarly, if an insured patient paid an average of $400 per month (not including deductibles and co-pays) in insurance premiums, they could save more than $4,000 annually by enrolling in Trinity HealthSpan ™ . “Even if the patient needed X-rays or an MRI, it would still be less expensive than through their insurance plan,” said Dr. Urrea.

“As a physician and patient, I wanted to bring peace of mind to those individuals and families who can’t afford insurance but deserve state-of-the-art medical services,” added Dr. Urrea. Patients may also purchase “a la carte” customized care packages with fewer services or those related to a specific health condition. Plan financing options are also available.

Trinity Family Medicine provides care for the entire family, including pediatrics, women’s health, men’s health, general medicine, herbal medicine, sleep studies, and cosmetic medicine. House calls are also an option for established patients depending on location.

Dr. Urrea is a graduate of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB). She is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and serves as an associate clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

For more information or to sign up for Trinity HealthSpan ™, call Trinity Family Medicine at 512-258-1645 or visit www.urreamd.com.

Via EPR Network
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Wrongful Convictions Of Physicians By Department Of Health (NYSDOH) Linked To Patient Mortality

The proliferation of wrongful convictions in New York State prompted the NYS Bar Association to create a Blue Ribbon task force to study its systemic, procedural and statutory causes, and to propose solutions. Indeed, a report by the Innocence Project found New York State to be the national leader, outpacing all other states in its rate of wrongful convictions. The Blue Ribbon findings, embodied in a document entitled “ Final Report of the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Wrongful Convictions” was unanimously endorsed by the Association’s House of Delegates on April 4.

The findings of the Task Force provide a disturbing commentary on flagrant errors by the New York State judicial system, leading to convictions of innocent individuals. In over 50% of cases, the failures of government practices – such as misconduct by prosecutors – were to blame for the wrongful convictions.

Wrongful convictions do not solely implicate the New York State criminal justice system. They are reportedly rife in the legal practices of the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH), known for ignoring due process and abusing power in its disciplinary actions against physicians. Several bills aiming to redress these inequities were all vetoed. Reported among many of these due process violations is the denying of witnesses for phy sicians’ defense, the use of tainted judges, and the coaching of plaintiffs by prosecutors to lie – indeed, “winning” cases is vital for their career advancement. Especially targeted in these malicious prosecutions are physicians practicing complementary medicine. One physician who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution remarked, “Convicting doctors is a cinch: just don’t allow them any witnesses; then the Department is free to make up whatever it wants.”

The tragedy of wrongful convictions in matters of health care affects far more than physicians. The plight of patients suddenly obliged to forgo the continuity of their medical care by the forcible removal of their long term physicians via the challenging of their license is illustrated in press and Internet releases entitled, “Patient Mortality Linked to Judicial Errors.” Noted are certain fragile patients who, “vulnerable, sick, alone, frightened and suddenly deprived of their main lifeline (their physician), became acutely demoralized, refused referrals to other doctors or failed to bond with them, eventually giving up their will to live and neglecting their medical needs.” One physician reported the untimely deaths of 7 patients, including one from suicide, the rapid decline of 8 Alzheimer’s and the relapses of 12 psychiatric patients leading to their serial hospitalizations.”

In response, petitions have now been forwarded to agencies concerned with patient20welfare, calling for independent impact studies on state-ordered patient abandonment. Agencies contacted include the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. The petition has also been sent to Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, NYSDOH.

This landmark study, of major interest to medical, psychiatric and medico-legal communities and the public at large, would aim to show that abruptly severing medical and psychiatric services by state agencies has serious and sometimes fatal consequences for patients – especially patients who are disadvantaged, infirm, chronically ill or psychiatrically disabled. It would also suggest remedial action. Indeed, if state agencies assume the power of terminating the basic care to patients provided for by their physicians, they presumably also should accept the responsibility for adequately supporting said patients through crisis, by providing them with life-saving continuity of care.

Via EPR Network
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