If you are a new Physical therapy practice in Massachusetts, beware. Most likely, you will be unable to get insurance credentialing. This will mean you will be unable to take insurance, people will need to pay out of pocket and you will not be successful. Sounds crazy unbelievable, right? Unfortunately, it is true. Insurance companies [...]
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Health is a very private matter. Health information is handled differently by everyone, especially a new diagnosis. Some people tell everyone while others may keep to themselves or only tell their immediate family. There is no standard for how to respond. It is personal. The internet offers loads of websites with personal descriptions, experiences and [...]
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A new study showed a retrovirus called MLV was found in chronic fatigue research subjects. I was quite happy to read about this study from NIH because people who suffer with it are often stigmatized. Many medical professionals don’t support it as a diagnosis. It has been considered a diagnosis of exclusion. Meaning since nothing [...]
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Danielle and her partner Spencer have been clients since March. The other day she was telling me about the day and it was very insightful. I asked her if she could be a guest blogger. Here is her first blog about her journey. I am a 25 year old social worker and I just received [...]
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I am probably going to ruffle some feathers. I do not support the movement to have patient advocates credentialed, at least not at this juncture in time. As a nurse and family nurse practitioner, I have sat for two separate credential exams. I have worked many clinical hours in a variety of settings. I decided [...]
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Healthcare reform is giving the consumer some say in their healthcare. It is why it had to happen. Up till now, the insurance companies have held the consumer hostage. They determined who would be covered, what services you were entitled to, how much you had to pay and at what the top amount allowed. As [...]
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I have a young client who has been suffering from an ulcerative colitis that 2 years ago required surgery. Since the initial surgery, there has been one complication after another. In the last four months, since I came on board, he has had two surgeries and one procedure. His pain level reached record highs before [...]
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I have been thinking recently about how the role of patient advocate evolved. A reason we all know is the complexity of the healthcare system with the many layers to shift through. There is also the need for an advocate to clear the path to get sooner appointments, second opinions, research medical options, provide insurance [...]
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Yesterday, the daughter of a client called about her mother’s swollen hand and arm. She had been to her PCP the day before and he said it was arthritis or a bone fracture. He did some lab tests and sent her for xrays. The following day, the lab test were all normal but my client’s [...]
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