CASE MANAGEMENT- WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT IS DONE FOR PATIENTS WITH ADDICTIONS
Case management involves a range of functions: Screening involves identifying whether someone might have a substance use problem and should have a comprehensive assessment. It may make use of a standardized instrument. Assessment identifies and defines a client’s major strengths and needs, characteristics and problems. Its goal is to generate the information necessary to refer […] Read More
EXPERIENCE COUNTS
A COMPLEX CASE STUDY: An 81 year old female presented with a six month history of abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, depression and a 30 pound weight loss. She developed abdominal pain with vomiting each time that she ate food. PAST INVESTIGATIONS: All prior investigations including upper and lower endoscopy, CT abdomen and ultrasounds were normal. […] Read More
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE STUCK WITH A BIG U.S. HOSPITAL BILL
THE PROBLEM: A number of Canadians end up in hospitals in the U.S. Many of them are either uninsured or under-insured. The result is that they end up stuck with a big hospital bill. The bills are a lesson in humility. One night in the ER results in a bill of $32,000. A fractured femur […] Read More
BEDSIDE PATIENT ADVOCACY HAS ARRIVED
With an aging population, seeing a loved one admitted to hospital can be a frightening and overwhelming experience. Hospitals are sterile environments. Doctors do not oversee anyone patient. There is a lack of continuity of care. Medical mistakes are common place. Loved ones can be overlooked. Their treatment needs can be ignored or worse. Now […] Read More
ADVOCACY FOR COMPLEX DRUG CLAIMS
TAKING PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO THE NEXT LEVEL: INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICS: Biologics change everything. Smart medications that target the source of the disease are the foundation for personalized medicine. The treatment outcomes can be outstanding. Unfortunately, these medications are expensive and this has lead to challenges with drug claims and reimbursement. COMPLEX DRUG CLAIMS: Drug […] Read More
WHEN NO ONE IS DRIVING THE BUS, PATIENTS ARE UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE:
Veronica was a very complex young lady. She was 32 and had type 1 diabetes. She had a serious motility (motor) disorder of her colon. Her gut did not move food contents along from top to bottom, in the way that it should. This lead to a number of serious complications including persistent vomiting and […] Read More
A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM GONE AWRY:
Controlling costs is essential for all healthcare systems. How costs are controlled is key. Here is a case study of a healthcare system gone awry in its efforts to control costs. Case Study: Bill is a 69 year old Israeli citizen. Originally from Ohio, he came to work in Israel about 35 years ago. He […] Read More
ACTIVIST PATIENTS ARE CHANGING HEALTHCARE FOR THE BETTER- by Dr. James Aw. Medical Director Medcan. National Post
Patients who question their doctors are changing the face of medicine – and physicians are embracing the shift Republish Reprint Dr. James Aw | March 11, 2014 11:58 AM ET Activist patients, those who take matters of their health into their own hands, are changing the medical landscape. Last week I was in California […] Read More
ASK THE SMARTEST PERSON ON THE PLANET, WHY NOT?
PRESS TO LISTEN TO AUDIO Listen to audio (MP3) The smartest people always seem to work somewhere else. So why can’t we invite them to work with us and help us to solve complex healthcare problems? This is what we do at RCM Health Consultancy (RCM). This is an advanced management practice called open innovation. […] Read More