MISTAKES ARE COSTLY!!!!

Medical mistakes cost the federal Medicare program $8.8 billion and resulted in 238,337 potentially preventable deaths during 2004 through 2006, according to Health Grades' fifth annual Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study.
Safety measures are not only the responsibility of the institutions but also of the patients/caregivers themselves. Medical mistakes can range from anything dealing with direct patient care (pre/post operative care, respiratory issues, bed sores, etc.) to administrative/documentation errors (dispensing of medication to wrong patient, incomplete records where vital information is omitted such as drug allergies, etc.). Over the past few years there has been a number of improved systems to help with some of the common errors that occur through administrative/documentation errors such as the coding of information into the patient chart via the patient band scanning system but imagine the impact if patients/caregivers begin taking an active role concerning their medical information.
Several years ago while my brother was hospitalized an incident happened that could have had deadly consequences. Being an advocate of personal responsibility, I told him to look at and identify any medication before he took it and question any shots a staff person tried to administer before he took them. A nurse came in with a shot of insulin which had been ordered by a physician. My brother immediately told the nurse he did not need insulin as far as he knew because he was not diabetic. The nurse took the time to check his blood sugar, which was normal, and contacted the doctor who had order the insulin. Had my brother been given this medication he could have died within minutes of receiving it. Apparently in hast the physician had crossed information concerning my brother and another patient he was treating and ordered the insulin for the wrong patient.
If an electronic personal health record device that would interface with the hospital's system were utilized when the insulin was ordered there would have been an immediate red flag as to why would insulin be needed for a patient who was not a diabetic before the pharmacy dispensed it. The pharmacist could have checked the patient laboratory profile to see if there had been an elevation in blood sugar results recently...but there would be a system of cross check to lower the patient risk.
We need systems that will work together but the first step is to engage the public so they have the awareness of such a device and begin to become familiar with the idea of managing their own information and not rely on their health practitioners to do so.
What steps are you and your family taking to ensure your safety? Don't continue to leave such an important part of your health care in the hands of others. Consider getting an electronic personal health record device for yourself and every member of your family.
One device the LIFECompass is user friendly and affordable.

MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

I am sure that if you are relatively healthy or young the idea of a medical power of attorney never crossed your mind but this is perhaps the most overlooked legal documentation regarding an individuals health care. Most people just don't look that far ahead to plan for who would be the person who would represent them in the event of an emergency that renders them incapable of doing it themselves or they somehow view the person who would need this document as an old person.
If you become unable to articulate your wishes, designating someone to act as your agent lets you choose who it is you wish to carry out your wishes.
Not appointing an agent before hand could force your family members to seek a court order to appoint someone, generally referred to in this case as a guardian, who will be authorized to make the decision as to what care you receive and even where you receive it. This person might not be who you would have wished to assume this responsibility. It is usually best to although difficult to discuss this delicate matter with family members before the crisis arise.
Who you would want to consider to be your agent would be someone who you trust, someone you know that will follow and honor your wishes, and who is physically and mentally capable. Generally most people will choose an alternate agent just in case the first person becomes unable to fulfill this duty.
The document only becomes effective in the event a physician certifies you are unable to do so yourself. Your agent is obligated to follow your wishes so they should have a clear understanding of what they are and a copy of your living will. You have the right to revoke the appointment. The document cannot be changed or modified. If you want to make changes you would need to make a new one.
The forms for a Medical Power of Attorney are available at most health care facilities or online. Once you have completed your form and it is signed and witnessed, it is another great document to have on the electronic PHR device. Again...having vital documents somewhere as a safety deposit box or among a file of other paper could delay your agents ability to speak for you since this document will need to be presented before the person could legally begin to act on your behalf.

YET ANOTHER REASON...HEALTH CARE IDENTITY THEFT

Until a couple weeks ago, I had never heard of this term Health Care Identity Theft. I was at a medical facility to have a consultation and picked up a pamphlet so I decided to learn more. Come to find out...this is big business.
This crime is where your medical information is stolen and sold...yes sold on the black market. According to a 2006 report published by the World Privacy Forum, a privacy rights group, most identity theft begins at a place you would least expect...your providers office. Dishonest employees in the providers office exchange your information for cash. A medical record has more street value than a social security number...the medical record goes for generally $50 while the social security number only one or two dollars. Once your record is in the hands of a black marketer your information can than be used to obtain medical services by someone else in your name.
Now you can imagine the financial implications of this but just think about the other problems this can cause. Once your record is used by someone else their medical history becomes intertwined with yours. Your record now could reflect surgeries and treatments you never had. Now imagine you show up at a hospital where this same person who used your record was treated...this could have disastrous consequence leading to wrong diagnosis, wrong treatments and even death (say you were brought into the ER unconscious and the hospital relied on the information in their system).
This is yet another reason that you begin to manage your own personal health records so it can reflect what actually has occurred in your medical history and treatments. If you still had not decided on having your own PHR...perhaps this will be the deciding reason for you. Don't leave something so important in the hands of someone else. Be sure you have a voice to speak for you in the event that you cannot speak...even if that hospital had totally wrong information...your PHR device reflects only what is true about you.

LET YOUR CHOICE BE KNOWN

Every person of legal age needs a living will. A living will is a document that outlines your last wishes regarding what you want or do not want done medically in the event you are not able to convey these wishes yourself. You may also hear it referenced as an advance directive, health care directive or physician's directive. Not to confuse this with a living trust which deals with the distribution of assets.
It is important to understand that the living will is only effective if the attending physician's treating you declares that your condition is terminal or you are unconscious and in there best medical judgment in a permanent vegetative state. The living will would not be effective in such a cases like a heart attack if you did not have a terminal illness. In an incidents such as that, resuscitation efforts would be performed even if you have a living will.
So you ask why is this so important? First and foremost it is your life and you should be the one that makes this decision. When a loved one faces a life ending event it is an emotionally time for their family and friends. Having to make certain decisions if the individual hasn't documented their wishes can be heart wrenching. No..it does not by any means remove the deep sadness felt as they face the inevitable loss but to remove that task from them is a very loving act you can give them. It allows the family a sense of peace when the time comes to say their good bye.
I was not present the last day of my father's life...I was in surgery. He had a cardiac event at home and was taken to the hospital and put on life support because he had no accompanying terminal condition. Both my mother and the rest of my family knew my father's wish not to have his life prolonged by mechanical means. After a twenty four hour period where he stopped breathing and was resuscitated several times, they were given the choice to have him taken off of the ventilator. Through the pain, they signed the documents which allowed the doctors to have him removed from life support. When I received the call from my mother to inform me what had happened, I felt a sense of relief and was proud to know that my family was able to honor my father's last wishes. Had he not made this information known and documented, the family might have endured days, weeks or even months of just watching him having his body kept alive through artificial means.
You need to check the laws that govern a living will in your state of resident.
Following in depth research I found a website, Caring Connections, that could give you some assistance in regards to state specific laws. I am not by any means stating that this is the site you should use, I am just giving this for informational purpose only...you can use at your own discretion.
Once your forms are completed you can scan and upload on your LIFECompass PHR device so that if you are rendered unable to speak for yourself your wishes will be know.Your family will not have to go hunting for paper work to show proof.
It is a fact, most people don't want to talk about such a sensitive subject, but death is an inevitable phase in the life cycle...be sure you are the one who makes your final choice.

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