Author: Dominick Flarey

Legal Nurse Consulting Program Article on Misdiagnosis

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Physician Flub: How to Protect Yourself After a Misdiagnosis

You’ve wasted months or even years treating an illness you thought you had, only to find out you’ve been misdiagnosed. You’re hurt, you’re scared and you feel hopeless. You don’t have to sit by and accept what has happened to you. You can begin protecting yourself after your misdiagnosis right away.

1. Find a Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice is a very tricky subject with many complicated laws. A medical malpractice lawyer will help you navigate the legal system if you decide to pursue damages. Your lawyer will also help you find a new specialist and get the correct paperwork before you file a lawsuit.

It’s important to get a lawyer first, to make sure you follow the correct procedure. Otherwise, you risk losing your potential settlement. Don’t sign anything your doctor’s office sends you without you lawyer’s approval.

2. Get Your New Doctor’s Testimony

Of course, once you’ve received a diagnosis, the first thing you’ll do is find a new doctor you can trust. According to the Dolman Law Group, in states like Florida, before a malpractice suit is filed, a medical professional has to swear under oath that the “treating doctor acted outside the established medical standard of care.”

In the event of a death, the testimony must state that the death was directly caused by the misdiagnosis.

3. Begin Documenting Your Symptoms

Starting a symptom diary is important for two reasons. First, it is good to have documentation to bring to your new doctor. Knowing when and under what conditions your symptoms present can help you get the accurate diagnosis you deserve.

Second, if your misdiagnosis has caused you actual harm, this symptom diary can be used as evidence in any lawsuits you might file. You can keep a time-stamped diary online, which you should take with you to any doctor or lawyer visit.

Make sure to include details about your symptoms, including what you’ve eaten, what medicine you took and the amount of sleep you got.

4. Act Quickly

You’re already tired after suffering from a chronic illness, and when you find out that you’ve been misdiagnosed, you may just want to rest. However, you need to act as soon as possible to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Malpractice suits have a statute of limitations. In Florida, you only have two years after misdiagnosis to file a lawsuit. If you suspect your doctor has acted in bad faith with your treatment, find a new doctor and a lawyer immediately.

Receiving a misdiagnosis seems unfair, and you deserve justice and compensation. If you believe your misdiagnosis was the result of malpractice, take these steps to protect yourself and start down the road to healing.

 

Please also review our Legal Nurse Consulting Program

Case Management Training Article On What Tech are the Coding Professionals Using Today?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Healthcare will always be an important part of society and a great provider of jobs. Millions of people seek medical care in hospitals every year. In recent years, there have been several developments in the health care industry, especially when it comes to technology. Hospitals are updating their billing systems, and healthcare facilities are using data support systems to supplement all the other kind of work they do. There are also several new technologies that make life easier for nurses, technicians and doctors. Here is a look at some of the newest tech being used by healthcare coders today.

 

Electronic Health Records

A few decades ago, medical billing systems were unorganized and unregulated. Today, medical facilities rely on electronic healthcare records. EHR software has changed the medical billing process. It has also reduced billing errors and made moderating between hospitals and insurance companies easier than ever. According to Integrity Support, their systems are used by a variety of types of healthcare facilities and centers and are followed by positive reviews wherever they are.

 

Changes to the ICD-9

Medical professionals have to keep a record of common and uncommon illnesses. Medical coders process thousands of claims every month. In 2015, the ICD-9 increased from 13,000 to 68,000 codes. Illnesses and treatments are assigned an alphanumeric code. Health care professionals are learning how to maintain security and analyze EHR data. This uniformity is making it easier for most processes to be integrated more fully and across systems.

 

Interoperability Between Health Systems

Value based health care is a necessity for medical professionals. Interoperability is an important part of the health care industry. Specialists and general practitioners need to communicate throughout a patient’s treatment process. Medical referral companies are helping doctors communicate, and the companies will be a large part of the health care industry in the near future.

 

Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring programs can collect a large amount of medical data. The data is sent to hospitals and nursing facilities. Health care professionals study the medical information, and the data becomes part of an effective treatment plan. Monitoring programs improve access to medical care, and the programs are cost-effective.

 

Medical Tricorder

A medical tricorder was the winning gadget at a global technology competition. It is used to record and review technical information. The device can diagnose diseases and record a patient’s vitals. It can also summarize a patient’s health status and monitor ongoing health data.

 

Digestible Sensors

Digestible sensors give healthcare professionals important information about their patients. The sensors can help doctors protect the patient’s organs. Eventually, digestible sensors will replace physicals. The sensors rely on the patient’s energy. When the data is collected, the information can be sent to a computer or mobile phone.

 

Healthcare technology continues to improve all aspects of the healthcare industry. Hardware and software developers are always introducing new applications and innovations and the changes will benefit patients and healthcare professionals.

 

Eileen O’Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter @eileenoshanassy.

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Bereavement Counseling Training Program

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Respecting grief in the workplace can be a challenging thing for the employer as well as among fellow employees.  This article looks at some of these issues

The article, How To Respect The Grieving Process In A Diverse Workplace, by Gloria Horsley states

“When we say that everyone grieves their own way, our cultural background is part of why we see and feel it so differently. There are different responses, emotions and coping strategies. Various cultures have rites and rituals that have been passed down for centuries that are specific to the funeral and mourning process.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Bereavement Counseling  Training Program

Christian Counseling Training Program Article on Spiritual Maturity

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Good article about spiritual maturity and signs that show you are growing in your faith.  It is critical to grow in faith and show signs of spiritual growth with Christ

The article, 4 Signs You’re Becoming Spiritually Mature, by Rachel Dawson states,

“Like verse 13 says, the goal is to be spiritually mature in the Lord. When I think about what that verse says, an image comes to mind of an empty outline of a person that is increasingly filled with vibrant color as they grow, develop their faith, are poured into by other believers, and are filled by God’s Word.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Christian Counseling Training Program.

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Training Program Article On Pets and Why They Matter

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Pets are part of our lives and for some, even like family.  Hence the value of something or someone determines the pain of loss.  It is of no wonder then that so many grieve the loss of a pet so intensely

The article, Why does the death of a pet matter to us so much?, by William Reville states

“Our Bichon Frise dog Milo died on June 6th. My wife and I were very much taken aback by the level of grief that Milo’s passing precipitated. Such grief is common among pet owners when their pet dies.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Training Program

Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program Article on Helping Children Grieve

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Remember children need guidance during grief and bereavement.  Hearing your voice and seeing your concern are big in their recovery

The article, Grieving children need your “I’m sorry,” too, by Jennifer Bannan states

“Last February, my 6-year-old son lost his father to cancer. His stepbrother, 12, and stepsister, 16, lost an amazingly present and enthusiastic stepdad.

And though I know their losses are as great, if not greater than mine, it took me until the evening of the memorial service one month after Brian’s death, around a bonfire with Brian’s high school friends who had traveled hours to be with us, to realize something.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program

Healthcare Case Management Program Article on Risk Based Reimbursement

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Good article for certified case managers or other healthcare professionals involved in health management executive positions

The article, Health systems see returns on risk-based reimbursement, by Alex Kacik states,

“In this year’s Modern Healthcare Hospital Systems Survey, only nine out of 60 respondents said they derived 10% or more of their net patient revenue in 2016 from risk-based contracts, which was largely in line with last year’s survey. Three-quarters of the respondents estimated that risk-based contracts generated 4% or less of their net patient revenue, but most indicated their share of risk-based contracts would slightly increase in 2017.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Healthcare Case Management Program

Meditation Instructor Program Article on Anxiety

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Good article about meditation and how it can help calm and bring peace to those suffering from anxiety.  Anxiety can be a huge issue for some and meditation can help

The article, The Science Behind Meditation As A Treatment For Anxiety, by Quora states

“While doing this, you are not only doing something with your short term stress, you are also conditioning yourself for the longer term. Keep thinking the same negative type of thought often enough, and you’ll make this conditioning worse and worse, with which you’ll able to stress yourself out 1) much more and 2) in a much shorter amount of time.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Meditation Training Instructor Program

Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program Article on Teaching Children About Death

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Good article about being honest with children about death.  Each age has a certain ability to understand death and the information given should correspond with the maturity of the child to comprehend.   The importance of discussing death with the child when it occurs is very important though and in some cases can provide critical life lessons to the child’s emotional and mental growth in experiencing death in his or her life.

The article, “Tell Your Children The Honest Truth About Death And Dying” by Shannon Burberry states

“Death is difficult for anyone to grasp, but it’s especially hard for children to understand. They will often ask “when is the person coming back?” or “when will we see them again?” It is my firm belief that honesty is the best policy, and it is important to be direct about what has happened.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our child and adolescent grief counseling program

Healthcare Case Management Article on Work Injuries and Healthcare Coverage

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Injured on the Job? How Being Injured at Work can Impact Your Healthcare

Being injured on the job has the potential to seriously impact not only your physical health, but also your financial health and well-being. The good news is that state and federal workers’ compensation laws mean that there is a good chance your medical expenses will be covered. In addition, although approximately 75% of workers’ compensation cases only cover medical expenses, you may also be entitled to compensation for lost wages.

Unfortunately, while the workers’ compensation program provides many benefits to those injured on the job, it also has the potential to seriously affect the type and quality of the health care you receive. For this reason, it is essential that you know about the potential impacts to your health care in order to be fully prepared should you be unfortunate enough to experience a work-related injury.

Your Normal Health Insurance Won’t Cover Your Injury
Almost every health insurance policy contains an exclusion for work-related injuries, which means that your normal health insurance won’t cover any medical expenses related to treating injuries you suffered on the job. The reason behind this is that these expenses should instead be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. However, your health insurance provider may still be required to pay for your medical expenses should the workers’ compensation insurance deny payment for whatever reason. Of course, it’s always a good idea to seek out workers’ comp lawyers in your area to ensure that your rights are respected.

You May Be Limited in Your Choice of Doctor
Not all doctors and hospitals accept workers’ compensation insurance, which means that you may be limited in your choice of doctors. If your current doctor does accept workers’ compensation insurance, you will still be able to use this doctor in most cases. However, should your doctor not accept workers’ comp, you will usually be forced to begin searching for medical professionals in your area that do take workers’ compensation cases.

You Could Be Forced to Wait for Treatment
Unfortunately, filing a workers’ compensation claim also means that you may be forced to wait longer before you can begin receiving any necessary treatments for your injury. The reason is that all medical expenses generally need to be approved by the workers’ compensation insurer before they can be performed. How this works is that first the doctor must determine whatever medical treatments are necessary to treat your injury. After this, the doctor then sends a request for authorization to the insurer, which then must determine that the treatment is necessary and reasonable before sending final approval back to the doctor. Although the process typically doesn’t take more than a few days, you will still have to wait to begin treatment until this final approval has been received.

American workers’ compensation laws were put in place in order to protect workers and ensure that their medical expenses are covered in case of a work-related injury. While this is definitely a huge benefit to anyone who would otherwise be unable to cover the costs of these medical expenses, it is still important that everyone is also aware of the ways in which a workers’ compensation claim can affect the health care you receive.

About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball.

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