There are more unforeseen problems appearing out of Obamacare. First have been the various website crashes. A CNN article (1) said that another outage had occurred for one of the sights. This had locked out many account holders and was preventing others from signing up. Verizon is the main provider for the website and has been requested by government officials to give more data to the website. Technical analysis said that the website was not actually prepared to go live on October 1st but the administration proceeded anyway.
The main issue that is presenting itself now is the lack of hospitals accepting Obamacare plans. This CNN article (2) gave the example of a Connecticut town's only hospital not accepting Obamacare due to the fact that it was unable to debate for prices and would be paid less than the cost of providing care. For citizens in that area that have purchased new plans through The Affordable Care Act they are at a loss. They are forced to drive to another town in order to get their health care while they have a perfectly good hospital right around the corner. The article goes on to mention many other big name hospitals that are not accepting Obamacare plans or a limited number of them. This will prove to be a big problem because citizens are purchasing these new plans not knowing their local doctors may not accept it. They would then be left to change doctors or pay out of pocket for their care.
It seems that potential problems with Obamacare where not publicized fully before its launch. I would think that if these issues where made more apparent to the public the Affordable Care Act would have been revisited before its launch. Now it seems many are locked into this new health care plan that is rapidly draining money our government simply does not have. Again I am not saying that everyone should not have access to health care, I think they should, but multiple problems early on typically spells disaster. It does not seem that the Obama administration actually looked into their plan as much as they said they did because I would think the problem of plans not being accepted would have been seen very soon. Many practices are still trying to figure out what accepting plans would mean for them. This should have been made extremely apparent well before the start of Obamacare, long before citizens could begin purchasing plans when the doctors do not even completely understand them! I do not know what the correct answer is but this one seems to keep developing problems. There most likely no one size fits all solution for our health care system. It is difficult to suddenly add 46 million to a system already struggle.
1- http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/29/news/economy/obamacare-site-outage/index.html
2- http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/29/health/obamacare-doctors-limited/index.html?hpt=he_c1
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Health Care System Soon to Crash?
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/02/health/obamacare-doctor-shortage/index.html?hpt=he_bn6
Regardless on your feelings on Obamacare the facts cannot be ignored. For years our healthcare system has been lacking and falling behind many other developed nations. Now Obamacare is putting an increased demand on the system that is already stretched thin. When Obamacare first went so many of the 48 million uninsured in this country were ready to cash in on their new medical benefits that twelve of the enrollment sites experienced technically problems and even crashed. If the technical portion of the system was having trouble on the first day of operation how can we possibly expect the actual medical care portion to hold up for long?
Currently estimates show that our system is short 20,000 doctors and this number is only expected to get worse. A study in the Annals of Family Medicine journal estimates that by 2025 we will be short a necessary 52,000 doctors. This article does note that the Affordable Care Act did not create this problem but it is exacerbating it. With an aging and growing population our system is struggling. The influx of many new patients could be more than it can handle. I liked the comparison of Obamacare is giving everyone ATM cards with no ATMs. I think Obamacare should have addressed current problems of our system before adding even more patients to the problem. If its giving them access to the system that may not even be able to help them what good will it do? Though it does seem to touch on some issues it just seems like it is not enough.
I do like that ideas that the article gives to help with the primary care issues. Since primary care is the backbone of our healthcare system I think it is important to focus on it. Because some graduates are turned away from primary care because of the low salary giving scholarships and other financial incentives could help with the need for more primary care doctors. An advantage to focusing on primary care is catching major issues in patients while they are still small. This will save the healthcare system money in the long run.
I see positives and negative about going into the medical field from this article. There will obviously be places that you will be able to find a job as the need seems to be so great. The negatives that I see are how many issues there seem to be. I think the job could become very stressful not because of serving patients but trying to manage the bureaucracy of the system. Its a tough decision that many undergraduates seem to be facing. I for one am not as convicted to go into the medical field though it is still of great interest to me.
Regardless on your feelings on Obamacare the facts cannot be ignored. For years our healthcare system has been lacking and falling behind many other developed nations. Now Obamacare is putting an increased demand on the system that is already stretched thin. When Obamacare first went so many of the 48 million uninsured in this country were ready to cash in on their new medical benefits that twelve of the enrollment sites experienced technically problems and even crashed. If the technical portion of the system was having trouble on the first day of operation how can we possibly expect the actual medical care portion to hold up for long?
Currently estimates show that our system is short 20,000 doctors and this number is only expected to get worse. A study in the Annals of Family Medicine journal estimates that by 2025 we will be short a necessary 52,000 doctors. This article does note that the Affordable Care Act did not create this problem but it is exacerbating it. With an aging and growing population our system is struggling. The influx of many new patients could be more than it can handle. I liked the comparison of Obamacare is giving everyone ATM cards with no ATMs. I think Obamacare should have addressed current problems of our system before adding even more patients to the problem. If its giving them access to the system that may not even be able to help them what good will it do? Though it does seem to touch on some issues it just seems like it is not enough.
I do like that ideas that the article gives to help with the primary care issues. Since primary care is the backbone of our healthcare system I think it is important to focus on it. Because some graduates are turned away from primary care because of the low salary giving scholarships and other financial incentives could help with the need for more primary care doctors. An advantage to focusing on primary care is catching major issues in patients while they are still small. This will save the healthcare system money in the long run.
I see positives and negative about going into the medical field from this article. There will obviously be places that you will be able to find a job as the need seems to be so great. The negatives that I see are how many issues there seem to be. I think the job could become very stressful not because of serving patients but trying to manage the bureaucracy of the system. Its a tough decision that many undergraduates seem to be facing. I for one am not as convicted to go into the medical field though it is still of great interest to me.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Obesity and America
Link to story that this post is inspired by: http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/health/weight-loss-sheltons/index.html?hpt=he_t2
Our cells are always replacing themselves and they do this by using the energy we get from food. This is why the cliche you are what you eat is so very true. So why do so many people just not seem to care what they are putting into their bodies? The rest of the world sees as the overeaters. Recently I know that we have reached the point where there are more obese people in the world than people starving. This is frankly mind boggling to me. The CDC says that 35.7% of U.S. adults are obese. Obesity puts a huge strain on our medical system. Medical costs for those that are obese are about $1,500 dollars more than those of normal weight. This equates to $147 billion spent on medical problems associated with being obese. Obesity affects some certain groups more than others, mainly low socioeconomics. You can see why from my last blog post. In North Carolina the prevalence of obesity is about 25%-29%. So what is the answer to obesity?
One incredible success story was posted on CNN. A couple lost a combined 538 pounds in 19 months. Plagued by daily road blocks and medical scares the couple finally decided that they needed to do something about their weight problem. They went to see a physician to learn what foods they could and could not eat. He gave them a plan on how to begin losing weight. The before and after pictures of this couple are absolutely amazing. I think that their preserving should be an inspiration for all Americans that are overweight. They cam see that it is possible to overcome their weight problem.
The couple used a multitude of tools in order to achieve their success. They used apps on their phones in order to track their progress. They said this was able to encourage them to keep working hard to lose the weight. Of course the couple join a gym and frequented it 5-6 days a week. On off days they would find a fun way to work out such as hiking of swimming.
I think all of America needs to learn from there story. People need to be able to take control of their lives in order to improve their standard of living. If citizens themselves reduced the obesity rate a great stress will be lifted off the medical industry. What do you think of this story? Does it inspire you to keep better track of your daily intake and exercise? Do you think that obesity is a medical care problem or one that should be taken care of by the patients themselves?
Link to story that this post is inspired by: http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/health/weight-loss-sheltons/index.html?hpt=he_t2
Our cells are always replacing themselves and they do this by using the energy we get from food. This is why the cliche you are what you eat is so very true. So why do so many people just not seem to care what they are putting into their bodies? The rest of the world sees as the overeaters. Recently I know that we have reached the point where there are more obese people in the world than people starving. This is frankly mind boggling to me. The CDC says that 35.7% of U.S. adults are obese. Obesity puts a huge strain on our medical system. Medical costs for those that are obese are about $1,500 dollars more than those of normal weight. This equates to $147 billion spent on medical problems associated with being obese. Obesity affects some certain groups more than others, mainly low socioeconomics. You can see why from my last blog post. In North Carolina the prevalence of obesity is about 25%-29%. So what is the answer to obesity?
One incredible success story was posted on CNN. A couple lost a combined 538 pounds in 19 months. Plagued by daily road blocks and medical scares the couple finally decided that they needed to do something about their weight problem. They went to see a physician to learn what foods they could and could not eat. He gave them a plan on how to begin losing weight. The before and after pictures of this couple are absolutely amazing. I think that their preserving should be an inspiration for all Americans that are overweight. They cam see that it is possible to overcome their weight problem.
The couple used a multitude of tools in order to achieve their success. They used apps on their phones in order to track their progress. They said this was able to encourage them to keep working hard to lose the weight. Of course the couple join a gym and frequented it 5-6 days a week. On off days they would find a fun way to work out such as hiking of swimming.
I think all of America needs to learn from there story. People need to be able to take control of their lives in order to improve their standard of living. If citizens themselves reduced the obesity rate a great stress will be lifted off the medical industry. What do you think of this story? Does it inspire you to keep better track of your daily intake and exercise? Do you think that obesity is a medical care problem or one that should be taken care of by the patients themselves?
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Eating Healthy versus Unhealthy
How do the food options available to us and the place that we live affect our likelihood to eat unhealthy? Here at school we have the luxury of all you care to eat dinning halls. It has made it much easier for me to monitor the food choices that I am making. I am often able to make myself choice some of the healthier options that are being offered. At home my choices were often based simply on what was in our fridge or pantry. For most people they do not even have it this easy. Many people in our country are stretching their dollars thin and have to make difficult choices when it comes to food. One study from the University of Washington found that the average price for 1,000 calories of high energy dense food but low in nutrients was $1.78. For low energy dense foods but high in nutrients the average price was $18.17. This is a very dramatic difference. People that have a low socioeconomic background are drawn to the high energy dense foods because it is easier to sustain themselves. In this way it is more difficult for people in poverty to eat healthy.
Another factor that affects our health from a food and exercise stand point can be where we live. At school the gym is about a 5 minute walk for most students. I know at home my gym was about a 15min drive away. This can definitely be a big determinate in how often someone works out. Now running is a free and effective way to workout. Everyday I see many students getting a run in on campus. Some people may live in areas where its not as safe to run. Some people may live in areas where it is often too cold to run. What are some strategies that people could use to maintain a healthy lifestyle if they are negatively affected by where they live?
Where we live can also affect what foods we have readily available. I remember my high school had a McDonalds directly across the street. It was always very tempting to go over there and grab a couple McDoubles. Local grocery stores can often only have a small selection if you are in a rural area or raise the prices of the healthier options. Is it solely our responsibility to choose what we eat? What if it is out of the control of some people? Simply the placement of food items in the grocery store can affect what people choose. Sugary cereals are often put lower on the shelves to gain the attention I know that part of the reason that some foods are so cheap is because what the government subsidizes. Is it the responsibility of the government to regulate some of the food choices? What are some options that you can employ to improve your eating habits? Your exercise routine?
Source:
How do the food options available to us and the place that we live affect our likelihood to eat unhealthy? Here at school we have the luxury of all you care to eat dinning halls. It has made it much easier for me to monitor the food choices that I am making. I am often able to make myself choice some of the healthier options that are being offered. At home my choices were often based simply on what was in our fridge or pantry. For most people they do not even have it this easy. Many people in our country are stretching their dollars thin and have to make difficult choices when it comes to food. One study from the University of Washington found that the average price for 1,000 calories of high energy dense food but low in nutrients was $1.78. For low energy dense foods but high in nutrients the average price was $18.17. This is a very dramatic difference. People that have a low socioeconomic background are drawn to the high energy dense foods because it is easier to sustain themselves. In this way it is more difficult for people in poverty to eat healthy.
Another factor that affects our health from a food and exercise stand point can be where we live. At school the gym is about a 5 minute walk for most students. I know at home my gym was about a 15min drive away. This can definitely be a big determinate in how often someone works out. Now running is a free and effective way to workout. Everyday I see many students getting a run in on campus. Some people may live in areas where its not as safe to run. Some people may live in areas where it is often too cold to run. What are some strategies that people could use to maintain a healthy lifestyle if they are negatively affected by where they live?
Where we live can also affect what foods we have readily available. I remember my high school had a McDonalds directly across the street. It was always very tempting to go over there and grab a couple McDoubles. Local grocery stores can often only have a small selection if you are in a rural area or raise the prices of the healthier options. Is it solely our responsibility to choose what we eat? What if it is out of the control of some people? Simply the placement of food items in the grocery store can affect what people choose. Sugary cereals are often put lower on the shelves to gain the attention I know that part of the reason that some foods are so cheap is because what the government subsidizes. Is it the responsibility of the government to regulate some of the food choices? What are some options that you can employ to improve your eating habits? Your exercise routine?
Source:
Parker-Pope, Tara. "A High Price for Healthy
Food." Well A High Price for Healthy Food Comments. The New
York Times, 5 Dec. 2007. Web. 06 Oct. 2013.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Importance Of Sleep
College
is packed full of activities all day long and even all night. I have already
had a night until 2am in Davis Library and I have heard much later from friends
finishing papers. I am having a blast but I know I have definitely been
skimping out on my sleep. Sleep is extremely important and I hate to miss but
sometimes it is inevitable. There can be many negative health implications for
not getting a full night sleep. For teenagers the suggested sleep time is 8.5-9
hours. I do not know how anyone would be able to stick to this suggestion and
manage school and extracurricular. Negative implications include increased risk
of obesity, decreased productivity during the day, and increased moody swings
such as irritability. The most stunning fact I found is that “After several nights of losing sleep—even a loss
of just 1–2 hours per night—your ability to function suffers as if you haven't
slept at all for a day or two.” I know that if I do not get enough sleep I am extremely grumpy and not pleasant to be around the next day. So what are some of the benefits of getting
enough sleep? One of the most beneficial for us at college is that it will help
us retain information better. "Studies show that a good
night's sleep improves learning. Whether you're learning math, how to play the
piano, how to perfect your golf swing, or how to drive a car, sleep helps
enhance your learning and problem-solving skills. Sleep also helps you pay
attention, make decisions, and be creative." Most people are not even
aware that sleep depravation is affecting them. One example of this is that
drowsy drivers do not believe that their ability to drive is affect, but in
reality “it can be affect as much as or more than being drunk.” Does being aware of these effects make you
want to get more sleep? If so how much sleep do you estimate you need each
night to be able to function properly the next day? What will you do in the
future to insure that you’re getting an appropriate amount of sleep?
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