When we go to the hospital, we expect that we are going to get better. Unfortunately, hospitals are run by humans, and doctors themselves are human. No matter how expert a health care professional is, there is always the potential for error. However, you might be surprised at how often these errors can occur. Health administration professionals may try to reduce errors, and in some cases errors are not reported as widely as they could be. If you are interested in more information about mistakes made in hospitals and by doctors, these 25 sometimes startling studies can shed some light on this issue:

General Medical Errors

You might be interested in learning about different errors, since a recent HealthGrades study showed that around 195,000 people die from preventable medical mistakes each year.

1. Errors in Medicine: Learn more about complications in treatment, prevalence of problems and preventable deaths. Looks at the errors made in hospitals and by doctors, and their effects on patients.
2. Views of Practicing Physicians and the Public on Medical Errors: Learn about the types of errors seen in medicine, and learn how physicians feel about them, as compared to how the public views errors. An interesting comparison, and one that might surprise you.
3. Patients’ and Physicians’ Attitudes Regarding the Disclosure of Medical Errors: Another interesting comparison of doctors vs. patients. This focuses on the disclosure of medical errors. You might be startled at how some doctors view the need to disclose medical erros.
4. The Critical Care Safety Study: The incidence and nature of adverse events and serious medical errors in intensive care: Get a good idea of the types of medical errors that occur in intensive care units. Also includes the prevalence of mistakes in hospital intensive care units.
5. Epidemiology of medical error: A look at how medical error develops, its prevalence, and the consequences of mistakes made in medicine.
6. Estimating Hospital Deaths Due to Medical Errors: Asks whether or not some of the numbers associated with medical error might be too high. A look at perspective.
7. Comparison of three methods for estimating rates of adverse events and rates of preventable adverse events in acute care hospitals: There is debate over what constitutes medical error and preventable incidents. This study addresses different ways of reporting.
8. Error, stress, and teamwork in medicine and aviation: cross sectional surveys: Considers the attitudes had by those involved in medical situations with the stress and situations felt by aircraft cockpit crew. An interesting way of looking at medical error.
9. Attitudes and barriers to incident reporting: a collaborative hospital study: You might be startled at how many hospitals try to avoid reporting incidents. This study looks at why.

Medication Errors

Medication errors are among the most common. This is because it is relatively easy to mix medications, dosing or overlook a possible allergy or interaction. Here are some studies about medication errors.

10. Causes of prescribing errors in hospital inpatients: a prospective study: An interesting look at the most common reasons that prescribing errors take place in hospitals.
11. Ethnographic study of incidence and severity of intravenous drug errors: A look at the errors that occur with the administration of intravenous drugs.
12. Rates of medication errors among depressed and burnt out residents: prospective cohort study: You might be surprised at the role that being burnt out plays in medication error.
13. Medication errors in paedriatric practice: insights from a continuous quality improvement approach: Addresses issues related to pediatric medicine and medication errors.
14. Relationship between medication errors and adverse drug events: Considers the correlation between errors and drug events that can cause discomfort, injury and even death.
15. Medication Errors Observed in 36 Health Care Facilities: Learn about the medication errors taking place in different facilities. Results can be generalized more widely, taking them beyond the 36 facilities used in the study.
16. Retrospective analysis of mortalities associated with medication errors: Take a look at how deadly some medication errors can be. Great information on how many medication errors result in death.
17. Medication errors in neonatal and paediatric intensive-care units: It is scary to think about, but there are errors made in medication for babies and children. Learn more about the errors that occur in the intensive care units for the most vulnerable of patients.
18. Fundamentals of medication error research: Learn more about the processes used in describing medication errors. A great way to educate yourself about drug errors, and how to read other studies about them.

Mistake Reduction

There are efforts underway to reduce general medical errors and medication errors. Learn more about efforts being made, and how many mistakes could be prevented if certain measures were taken.

19. The Effect of Computerized Physician Order Entry on Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events in Pediatric Inpatients: This study looks at how computerized entry could help reduce medication mistakes. After all, this reduces the need to try and decipher illegible prescriptions.
20. Reducing errors made by emergency physicians in interpreting radiographs: longitudinal study: Considers the number of errors made by emergency physicians regarding reading radiographs and looks at how to reduce these mistakes.
21. Using information technology to reduce rates of medication errors in hospitals: Learn about how advances in technology can cut down on the rate of medical errors.
22. Medication Error Prevention by Clinical Pharmacists in Two Children’s Hospitals: A look at how pharmacist intervention can reduce the severity and number of medication errors.
23. Prioritizing strategies for preventing medication errors and adverse drug events in pediatric inpatients: An interesting look at how it is possible to prevent error. A look at different strategies for reducing medication errors, and prioritizing them.
24. Promoting Patient Safety by Preventing Medical Error: A look at how medical error can prevented, and the importance of reducing medical errors in order to encourage better patient safety and outcomes.
25. Reporting and preventing medical mishaps: lessons from non-medical near miss reporting systems: There is a great deal that can be learned about reporting medical errors from systems in place for non-medical systems. This study looks at how applying different reporting techniques to medical systems can help prevent mistakes in the future.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs), online health services and tools that help manage healthcare online all raise questions about medical privacy. This list of 50 free resources to learn about medical privacy, from information about personal health records to organizations that advocate for the patient, can help you learn more about why these privacy issues are such a concern.

Personal Health Records

1. Electronic Health Records (EHR): The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains financial incentives for eligible physicians that use qualified EHR. The Medical Group Management Association stays on top of the requirements.
2. Electronic Medical Records, Electronic Health Records: Open Clinical offers a wealth of information about EMR and EHR developments.
3. Information Sharing and Privacy with Personal Medical Records [PDF]: This report summarizes the theoretical underpinnings of a model of patient data flow.
4. Keep It With You: Personal Medical Information Form: The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) offers directions on how to safeguard your medical records during an emergency situation.
5. Keeping a Personal Medical Records File: The Mesothelioma group provides information about how to keep a personal medical records file.
6. myPHR: This site is a service offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to learn more about personal health records.
7. New National Survey Finds Personal Health Records Motivate Consumers to Improve Their Health: This recent article states that tools to help people manage their health still are not widely used.
8. Personal Health Records: MedlinePlus offers a section devoted to personal health records, also called EHR, or Electronic Health Records.
9. Personal Health Records (PHR): Medicare.gov offers information about PHRs and how to create one.
10. The Value of Personal Health Records [PDF]: This online brocure tackles all the right reasons to maintain personal health records.

Medical Record Privacy

11. Health Privacy: The Center for Democracy and Technology offers a thorough look at HIT (Health Information Technology) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
12. HHS Announces Proposed HIPAA Rule: This recent article defines the proposed rule.
13. Medical Privacy: The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) provides news about the inadequacies within medical information keeping.
14. Medical Record Privacy: This document, created by Epic (Electronic Privacy Information Center), focuses public attention on emerging and civil liberties issues in the medical record debate.
15. Medical Records Privacy: The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse provides concise information about the issue of medical records privacy.
16. Preserving Patient Confidentiality in the Era of Information Technology [PDF]: The developments in information technologies and systems pose challenges to psychiatrists, health care entities, and
    policy makers to adopt appropriate rules to protect patient privacy.
17. Privacy Protection and Identity Theft – Medical Privacy: The Consumer Action Website offers resources to learn more about medical privacy.
18. Stitching Up Health Records: Privacy Compliance Lags: Twenty percent of health care companies are unable or unwilling to implement federal privacy requirements, because the rules are vague and the technology is spotty.
19. Who’s Keeping an Eye on Your Online Health Records? Google, Microsoft and other providers of Web-based services for managing health care information promise to keep it secure, but privacy policies vary from site to site.

Medical Identity Theft

20. Correcting Misinformation on Medical Records: The Identity Theft Resource Center offers this fact sheet on medical identity theft.
21. Data Breaches and Medical identity Theft on the Rise: This article, provided by HealthcareTechnologyNet, provides insight into this problem.
22. Medical Identity Theft: The Federal Trade Commission offers information and resources to prevent and remedy medical identity theft.
23. Medical identity theft: This article, provided by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, provides popular scams and solutions.
24. Medical Identity Theft & Medicare Fraud: This information is offered by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General.
25. Medical Identity Theft: It Can Kill — What Every Consumer Needs to Know: The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Cosumer Protection offers some solid advice.
26. Medical Identity Theft Web site: Use this site to learn more about prevention, resources and expert advice about medical ID theft.
27. Medical Identity Theft: How to Protect Yourself: This story from ABC Good Morning America is enlightening and informative.
28. The Medical Identity Theft Information Page: The World Privacy Forum offers resources for readers to help avoid medical identity theft.

Know Your Rights

29. Breaches of Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: This site contains links to information that ranges from informed consent to failed diagnosis and gross negligence.
30. Center for Medical Consumers: This site is committed to broadening public awareness about the safety and quality problems that pervade America’s medical care.
31. HIPAA, HiTech & HIT: This law office covers legal issues, developments and other pertinent information relating to electronic health records, or EHR.
32. Medical Records: The ‘Lectric Law Library offers a brief and easy-to-understand rundown on medical record privacy and the law.
33. Medical records: Disclosing confidential clinical information: The Psychiatrist offers insight into patient confidentiality and the law.
34. Patient Access to Medical Records: This report identifies and explains state law on patient access to medical records in a question and answer format.
35. Patient-Centered Guides: Use this site to learn more about your rights and about other resources geared specifically toward certain diseases.
36. Self-Help Group Sourcebook Online: This guide has been developed to act as your starting point for finding every type of online self-help support group that is available.
37. Smart Patient Guide: Family Doctor offers numerous guides for patients to learn how to manage healthcare.
38. Speak Up Initiatives: The Joint Commission provides “Speak Up” information for patients to help them talk with medical professionals.
39. Thomas, Legislative Information on the Internet: Information from the United States Congress on the latest legislative activity, provided in a searchable format by the Library of Congress.

Organizations

40. American Academy of Family Physicians: The AAFP offers a variety of information about public policy, including patient confidentiality.
41. American College of Physicians: ACP Committees are involved in policy development, education, career development, and more.
42. American Health Information Management Association: AHIMA is a health information management (HIM) professional association over 59,000 members strong.
43. American Medical Association: AMA members nationwide are committed to the highest standards in patient care, practice management and professionalism.
44. Medical Information Bureau: MIB is a data bank used by insurance companies. Use the “consumers” tab at top to learn more about your privacy.
45. National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse: This is the nation’s first national consumer technical assistance center.
46. National Patient Advicate Foundation: NPAF is a national non-profit organization providing the patient voice in improving access to, and reimbursement for, high-quality healthcare through regulatory and legislative reform at the state and federal levels.
47. Office for Civil Rights: Civil Rights help to protect you from unfair treatment or discrimination, because of your race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex (gender), or religion.
48. Patient Advocate Foundation: You can find professional case managers and attorneys here who advocate on behalf of patients experiencing numerous issues.
49. Public Citizen Health and Safety: Public Citizen’s work in health and safety has focused on protecting consumers by advocating for stronger physician accountability.
50. PULSE: Persons United Limiting Substandards and Errors works to improve patient safety and to reduce the rate of medical errors using real life stories and experiences.

One of the career paths you can take with a Master of Health Administration degree is to help educate others. With all that we are learning about the body, and with technology, it is fairly easy to fulfill your duties as an educator. Indeed, health educators can influence children and adults to engage in healthier habits. If you want to make it fun, you can use games to help teach health concepts. Here are 25 useful games for health educators to use:

Nutrition

Keep your students on the right nutrition track with help from games that educate them as they play. Teach solid nutrition principles, and help students develop habits that can serve them well throughout their lives.

1. Food Fury: Create chains of related foods using the tiles. You need to be fast, so that you can beat the timer. Levels become progressively hard. A fun way to learn about food, and how it relates to other foods.
2. Brain Gain: This is a more advanced game that focuses on healthy foods, and understanding portion size. You answer questions, and find out if you are right. You get extra points for answering questions faster. A fun way to test your knowledge of good nutrition.
3. Tell the Tooth: Learn about healthy snacks. This game from Colgate focuses on helping you choose snacks that are better for your teeth. Stay away from the high sugar snacks!
4. Nutrition Sleuth: This fun game helps you learn more about nutrition. Identify the missing nutrient to help the detective get to the bottom of poor nutrition. A good way to learn how to take better care of your body.
5. Combo Kitchen: Learn about combination foods, and learn about their impact on health and nutrition. A fun way to learn about nutrition, and how to create healthy meals.
6. Mission Nutrition: Take this nutrition challenge to learn more about healthy choices. You can look inside a refrigerator and in the cabinets to find food that will help your body be healthy and strong.
7. MyPyramid Blast Off Game: The USDA offers a fun game designed to help kids learn about the Food Pyramid. Learn how the right fuel can launch your rocket to Planet Power.
8. Drop & Catch: Learn about how you can avoid saturated fat. This game is about catching the fruits and vegetables and avoiding the stuff that makes you unhealthy.

Exercise

Another important component of health is physical fitness. Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. You can use games to help children and others learn more about the benefits and importance of physical fitness.

9. Fat Pants Game: Learn about how you can keep the weight off. Answer a few questions, and test your ability to be committed to exercising right and losing weight.
10. Health and Fitness Quizzes: Learn about health and proper fitness. Answer questions and get points a great way to learn more about better fitness.
11. Fitness Dash: You need Windows to play this game, but it is a fun way to learn about fitness, and test your knowledge of good practices.
12. Fitness Challenge: Learn about fitness, proper exercise, and what you can do to be healthier. A cool fitness challenge that gets you involved.
13. Fitness Frenzy: Learn more about taking good care of your body with the help of physical exercise. Fitness frenzy will educate you while you have fun.
14. Weight Watchers: Interestingly, it is possible to turn Weight Watchers into an online role playing game. Here is an interesting look at how to do this — and lose weight.
15. Kalorie King Weight Loss Game: Learn about how to burn off those calories with this game. Also includes information on avoiding high calorie foods.
16. Sports Crafts: Create cool crafts related to different sports. A cool way to get interested in physical activity and sports.

Learn About the Body

Understanding how the body works, and what its different systems accomplish is very helpful. It can provide students with a number of desirable insights. These games are educational and fun.

17. Match a Muscle: This cool game from Anatomy Arcade offers a look at different muscles in the body, and lets you use a matching game to learn more about the muscular system. Anatomy Arcade also offers a number of other cool games that can help you learn about the body.
18. Water and Your Digestive System: See the parts of the digestive system, and see how water travels through it, with help from this fun game from the National Institutes of Health. A good primer on the digestive system, and how it works.
19. Neuro-Jeopardy: Learn about the nervous system with help from this fun game. Great Jeopardy! style way to learn about what goes on in the brain, and how the brain controls the body.
20. Skeletal System Game: Learn the different bones in the skeletal system. Fill them in and see whether you are right. A great click and drag game. See how fast you can fill in the blanks to label all the parts of the skeleton correctly.
21. Neuron Navigator: This game takes you through the development of a neuron. A great way to learn about how the connections in your brain are made. See what neurons look like, and help them grow.
22. Sail the Circulatory System: Learn about how the heart pumps blood through the body with this cool game. Watch out, though! If you don’t get the oxygen to where it needs to go, your sailing trip will end rather abruptly.
23. Respiratory System: This educational game times you as you look at different areas of the respiratory system. A great way to learn how this system works, and how we breathe. You can even customize the game to suit your needs.
24. Discover the Human Body: Explore different parts and systems in the human body. A fun activity and interactive way to learn.
25. Medical Jargon: This advanced game is more for teens and adults. The idea is to learn medical jargon, and get a better understanding of what different health words mean. A great way to learn more about the body — and about caring for it. Compare your scores with others.

When it comes to public health, there are few scourges with the profile of obesity. With obesity increasingly becoming an issue in America, it is little surprise that health professionals and advocates are concerned about obesity. Many consider obesity in America a true public health risk, due to the diseases connected to obesity, as well as the costs associated with obesity. Here are 25 enlightening studies and infographics about obesity in America:

Adult Obesity

Many adults in the United States are obese. These studies and infographics address the issue of overweight adults.

1. The United States of Obesity 2009: Get an idea of what America looks like in terms of obesity. A great infographic that breaks down the fattest states in the U.S., and learn facts about obesity in America.
2. F as in Fat 2009: This study looks at obesity in America, and the increasing rates. It also looks at the failure of anti-obesity policies to stave off the epidemic.
3. Nutritional and other influences in childhood as predictors of adult obesity: What you do as a child, even if you are not an obese child, can point to whether or not you are obese as an adult.
4. Causes and consequences of adult obesity: health, social and economic impacts in the United States: Learn more about adult obesity in general, and view it through a variety of lenses.
5. Adult obesity: An overview of the problem of adult obesity, as well as information about health habits in America.

Childhood Obesity

Concerns about obesity in children are on the rise. With lifestyles today, more and more children are overweight — threatening to create health problems as they grow up.

6. Childhood Obesity: Learn more about the growth in childhood obesity. This infographic offers information on the growth of childhood obesity from 1976 to 2000. It’s only grown since then.
7. Childhood Obesity: The Health Issue: Get a solid understanding of the health issue of childhood obesity, and its implications for the future.
8. Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure: Addresses the issue of childhood obesity and its status as a public health crisis. Also looks at possible solutions that could lead to an improved situation.
9. Cross-national comparison of childhood obesity: A look at childhood obesity in America, as well as comparing America’s numbers to an international standards. Looks at socioeconomic risk factors and other issues that may contribute to childhood obesity.
10. Defining obesity in childhood: current practice: When is a child considered obese, anyway? This enlightening paper looks at obesity, and children, and looks at the metrics used to measure obesity, and helps us define what childhood obesity is.
11. Childhood Obesity: Trends and Potential Causes: An interesting study looking at trends in childhood obesity, and pinpointing possible causes of the epidemic. An interesting approach to following childhood obesity.

Causes of Obesity

There are a number of risk factors associated with obesity. Understanding where obesity comes from is a step in the right direction.

12. Causes of Obesity: This infographic illustrates the different risk factors associated with obesity. Learn what can cause obesity, and see what you can do to decrease your chances of becoming obese.
13. Overweight and Obesity: Prevalence, Consequences, and Causes of a Growing Public Health Problem: Takes a look the growing health concern that is obesity. Pays attention to the causes of obesity, and what can be done to prevent them in order to slow this public health problem.
14. Do We Fatten Our Children at the Television Set? Obesity and Television Viewing in Children and Adolescents: One of the causes of obesity might be a sedentary lifestyle. This study looks at the connection between watching a large amount of television and the likelihood of obesity, especially among children.
15. Obesity and socioeconomic status: A framework for examining relationships between physical and social variables: Obesity isn’t always just about eating junk food and not getting exercise. Some studies also point out that economic opportunity can be a risk factor. A look at whether or not some people can actually afford being healthy.

Obesity Related Diseases

There are a number of diseases and health concerns related to obesity. Find out what other problems can result when you are obese.

16. Medical Complications of Obesity: Obesity isn’t just about carrying some extra weight. There are a number of medical conditions and costs that come with obesity. This infographic shows you some of the other areas of the body affected by obesity.
17. American Heart Association Call to Action: Obesity as a Major Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease: If you are obese, you are at an increased risk for coronary heart disease. This study looks at the medical and scientific case for the link between obesity and heart disease.
18. The Continuing Epidemics of Obesity and Diabetes in the United States: This study published in the Journal of the America Medical Association looks at the connection between obesity and diabetes. An interesting look at the continued rise of obesity — and diabetes — in America.
19. Obesity, fat distribution, and weight gain as risk factors for clinical diabetes in men: Learn about how obesity likely contributes to diabetes in the male population. A good look at the way fat plays a role in diabetes.
20. Overweight, obesity and cancer: epidemiological evidence and proposed mechanisms: Provides an overview of the different cancers that can be caused by obesity, and looks at the mechanisms that lead from obesity to cancer.

Cost of Obesity

Diseases related to obesity are expensive. There are a number of costs related to obesity. It is important to recognize the costs so that steps can be taken to reduce them.

21. Obesity and the Workplace: This interesting infographic shows how obesity can cost someone who is overweight. It shows salary decreases due to obesity, as well as other costs.
22. The economics of obesity: dietary energy density and energy cost: Learn about how obesity works on an economic level, including a look at costs to the poor.
23. National Medical Spending Attributable to Overweight And Obesity: How Much, And Who’s Paying?: Consider how much money is spent as a result of obesity, and find out who is footing the bill.
24. Economic costs of obesity: A stark look at how much obesity costs the economy of the United States each year.
25. Will All Americans Become Overweight or Obese? Estimating the Progression and Cost of the US Obesity Epidemic: A somewhat frightening look at the way obesity is progressing in the U.S., along with a projection of how much it will cost society and the economy.

It is rather easy to conclude that in order to have any useful contribution to the raging health care debate, you must have a firm understanding of the U.S. Healthcare System. With this in mind, we’ve found 10 excellent infographics that can help illuminate some of the problems with the current system, as well as how the current system is set up, and what some proposed changes might mean.

The Current System

The current healthcare system in the US can seem quite complicated to some. Essentially, private insurance companies offer “coverage options” and are paid accordingly. When an American goes to the doctor, gets an operation, buys prescription drugs, and more, their insurance company will “pay” for it. The amount paid varies depending on coverage, if the person goes to an approved healthcare professional, if the insurance company approves the treatment, and so on. Typically, people who are covered by insurance have their coverage through their employer. Companies make deals with insurance providers to give their employees insurance options.

1. Business Week — This shows the market share of insurers in every state. It may (or may not) be surprising to find that in some states, certain insurance companies have an overwhelming amount of the total market share. Since the U.S. system is based on having insurance, if there is little competition, companies can charge much higher rates without worrying about losing customers to competitors, and can deny coverage to those customers who may be more “risky” (likely to get sick), without worrying about incurring losses. This advantage becomes even more startling when one considers that doctors might want to make sure they are in the largest possible network in the state in order to get the most patients. Conversely, patients might have extra incentive to simply go with the largest provider in order to have the most options for doctors. In the end, higher costs can be charged and the market has a more difficult time setting a price.
2. Good.is — A simple infographic, showing the cost of a drug (Lipitor) in America, compared to its cost in countries around the world. That being said, the information one can obtain from it is much more complicated. One of the largest criticisms of the current U.S. Healthcare System is the fact that costs can be astronomical at times. Some argue that this is because of the insurance system America has in place. Why would a drug cost so much more in the US? One reason is that in countries with socialized healthcare, governments set price caps on certain drugs, which can lower healthcare costs. Another reason is simply that generics hold less sway in countries with socialized medicine, so blockbuster drug makers don’t need to charge as much before their patent runs out.
3. National Geographic — Another infographic that brings to light the cost of healthcare in America. You cannot even see where America is on the healthcare cost spectrum from the thumbnail, but if you view the enlarged picture, you will notice that the US is substantially higher than any other country in terms of average healthcare costs. The average American spends about $7,290 yearly on healthcare. The next highest cost is Switzerland where they spend just over $4,000 yearly on healthcare.
4. The Toilet Paper.com — Brings yet another infographic that analyzes health care costs. This jarring infographic shows several developed countries’ spending on healthcare as a percentage of GDP. Many people consider GDP to be the largest indicator of a country’s economic stability. The US, according to this graphic, currently spends 15% of it’s GDP on healthcare. The next closest is Switzerland at 11.6%.
5. Fastcompany.com — The final infographic in this section comes from Fast Company.com . In the current US Healthcare system, some argue that it is unfair because not everyone can receive coverage. If you are unemployed, or working part-time, it may be difficult to get insurance, or it may simply not be an option. This infographic shows deaths from lack of healthcare coverage versus deaths from terrorism. The morbid comparison being how much the US Government spends on defense versus how much it spends on providing healthcare to every citizen.

Proposed Changes

Because of what many people see as significant flaws in the U.S. Healthcare System, there have been many discussions on ways to change the system entirely. How exactly to go about changing the system has caused significant political upheaval in the United States. Some argue that the only option is a government-run, socialized healthcare system. Others argue that the system should remain privatized, but that more competition is needed. Still others argue that the current system is fine. In any case, these infographics can give you an idea of some proposals.

6. Fox News — A pdf infographic that shows the health plan proposed by the House Democrats, . As you can see, it is quite complicated. Looking at this graphic, healthcare reform is a labyrinth-like maze of government inefficiency that will only raise costs and provide little help to the general public. Many persons opposed to the universal healthcare plan cite increased costs, confusing infrastructure, and coverage for those who shouldn’t have coverage.
7. Robert Palmer at Flickr — Here is another graph of the health plan proposed by House Democrats. It looks slightly-less complicated, but still leaves a lot of questions for someone who is uninformed on the debate. Democrats maintain that the goal for a nationalized healthcare initiative would be to provide coverage for all, while allowing people who already have plans to keep their plans, while attempting to force private insurance companies to lower premiums by introducing more competition to the market.
8. Good.is — The simplest of the three healthcare reform flowcharts breaks it down to the essential facts. Start from the top left and answer the questions to yourself. Each answer has an arrow that directs you to the associated funding from the federal government. The idea behind this graph is to further illustrate that if you already have coverage, you won’t have to pay any additional cost. However, this graph also shows that no matter what happens with the healthcare debate, there will be substantial costs involved.
9. Visual Economics — This infographic shows that changing the current healthcare system, and attempting to provide health care to all will certainly result in some costs. This infographic details just how much a “free health care plan” could end up costing, and goes on to detail where the money to pay for it all will come from. Persons who dislike taxes may be disinclined to support this view of reform, since businesses and others may have their taxes increased in order to pay for it all.
10. Good.is — Costs have been identified as one of the biggest issues with the current healthcare system. This final infographic shows, with the help of solid data, where some healthcare savings might be able to be found.
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The healthcare field in America is constantly changing. With new technologies, medical advances, and financial challenges it is very difficult for organizations to stay ahead of the curve. This holds especially true when it comes to hospitals in America. However, we’ve compiled a list of 20 hospitals that are the best at what they do. How hospitals make this list is by being highly rated by medical professionals and patients in a variety of important areas. These areas include mortality rates, patient care, facilities (resources and upkeep), patient safety, and more. Hospitals that have achieved rankings in specific medical specialty areas (cardiology, cancer treatment, etc) are also highly valued on this list. These are the best hospitals because they are, quite simply, top-notch when it comes to health care. If you need to find a hospital because you or a loved one has become I’ll, then at least one of the following 20 should certainly be considered. This list groups the hospitals by region so you can easily browse for the best facilities closest to you.

Northeast



1. Hospital University of Pennsylvania — Founded in 1874 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also known as the City of Brotherly Love, this hospital is often lauded for it’s commitment to researching innovative treatments for new diseases. In addition to being ranked #8 on the U.S. News & World Report of the Best Hospitals in America, this hospital boasts a fantastic helicopter fleet called PennSTAR, which serves to transport critically injured patients to the hospital.
2. Johns Hopkins Hospital — Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this teaching hospital and biomedical research facility saw the inception of many medical specialties including child psychiatry, cardiac surgery, urology, neurosurgery, and pediatrics. Johns Hopkins has the distinction of being ranked the number one hospital in America for 20 straight years, a fact that is never lost on it’s hard working healthcare professionals.



3. Massachusetts General Hospital — This hospital first opened its doors in Boston in 1811. Since then, this Harvard Medical School teaching hospital has been consistently grouped with the best in the country. Patient care is the number one priority for MGH professionals. To that end, MGH has over 905 beds and serves around 45,000 patients every year.
4. NYU Medical Center — New York City, “The Big Apple,” is home to one of the top hospitals in the country. Founded in 1841, this hospital has a history of having some of the best physicians in the world on its staff. In fact, one of the first surgeons to work for the NYU Medical Center was John Revere, son of famous patriot Paul Revere.



5. Yale – New Haven Hospital — New Haven, Connecticut is home to Yale University’s hospital. YNHH has received consistent acclaim for its excellence in specialty medical areas that include cancer, diabetes and endocrine disorders, digestive disorders, ear, geriatric care, gynecology, heart surgery, and more.
6. New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell — NYC has another best hospital on this list; one that many consider to be among the most comprehensive hospitals in the world. Having the resources of two Ivy League institutions for support also helps this hospital to stay ahead of the curve in service and emerging medical technologies.

South



7. Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Founded in 1874, in the great city of Nashville, Tennessee, VUMC boasts an impressive medical resume with a large number of expertly trained medical care professionals committed to giving patients the best care available. Recently, VAMU has received recognition for pioneering several medical systems, including the keeping of electronic records.
8. Duke University Medical Center — Since 1930 Durham, North Carolina, has been home to one of the top Hospitals in the South. Duke University Hospital is a “full-service tertiary and quaternary care hospital” that operates 924 acute care beds and 19 psychiatry beds. Thousands of patients each year are treated here, and the hospital plans on continuing expansion.



9. The Methodist Hospital — Located in Houston, Texas, this hospital was ranked #20 in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report of America’s best hospitals. Its specialties are recognized around the world as some of the best in the field. These include cardiovascular surgery, cancer treatment, and epilepsy treatment. The Methodist Hospital has a successful affiliation with New York-Presbyterian, another hospital on our list.
10. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa — Tampa, Florida is home to one of the best centers for cancer research and treatment. Cancer remains one of the most deadly diseases around today, and persons working at this hospital make its treatment their priority.

Midwest



11. Ohio State University Hospital — Columbus, Ohio is home to one of the best hospitals in the country. The Ohio State University hospital has made research core to its mission, and having support from one of the largest research institutions in the world has helped significantly with this goal. Additionally, this hospital has received high rankings for a variety of specialties including cancer, rehabilitation, and gynecology.
12. Mayo Clinic — You can find one of the best hospitals in America, in Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo clinic has consistently been ranked #2 in the country, behind only Johns Hopkins, because of its commitment to patient care and research. The Mayo Clinic also ranks in the top three for many specialties including, diabetes and endocrine disorders, digestive disorders, neurology, and neurosurgery.



13. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University — Founded in 1902 in St. Louis, this hospital has been on the U.S. News & World Report hospital honor list for the last 18 years. Barnes-Jewish hospital is well-regarded in many specialties including cancer care, lung care, transplant services, and heart care. In fact, this hospital has the distinction of pioneering many procedures such as ablation therapies and valve repair/replacement.
14. University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers — Ann Arbor, Michigan, is where you’ll find another one of the best hospitals in the country. this hospital has been pioneering treatments and caring for patients since 1850. UMH has received high rankings in the specialty areas of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Neurology, and Neurosurgery.



15. Cleveland Clinic — Cleveland, Ohio is home to the hospital with the best cardiology department in the country. This hospital was most recently ranked #4 overall in the nation, and has been providing patients with fantastic care since its foundation in 1921.

West

16. University of Washington Medical Center — Seattle is home to one of the best hospitals in America. Ranked #11 by U.S. News & World Report, with acclaimed specialty areas in rehabilitation, orthopedics, geriatrics, and more. This hospital is one of the best in the West, if not the world.



17. University Medical Center — In the desert of Tuscon, Arizona, you’ll find this fantastic hospital. This hospital was founded in 1971, and has received significant rankings in many categories including cardiothoracic and multidisciplinary transplants.
18. University of California, San Francisco Medical Center — This hospital is considered to be one of the best in the country in patient care, medical education, and health sciences research. Since its foundation in 1873, healthcare professionals working here have had a commitment to providing the best treatments possible to all those in need. Patients can also benefit from the extensive resources that being part of the University of California network provides.



19. Stanford Hospital and Clinics — In sunny Stanford, California one of the best hospitals in America continues to set an excellent example in the health care field. With over 40,000 visits yearly, 20,000 of them being inpatients, this hospital certainly serves the larger community.
20. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center — Located on UCLA’s beautiful sprawling campus, this hospital has received rankings in the top twenty in 15 of the 16 medical specialties ranked by the U.S. News & World Report every year for the last decade.
]]> http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2010/the-20-best-hospitals-in-america%e2%80%94and-what-makes-them-the-best/feed/ 0 http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/50-tools-and-tips-to-bookmark-for-the-next-pandemic/ http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/50-tools-and-tips-to-bookmark-for-the-next-pandemic/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:24:10 +0000 Miranda http://masterofhealthadministration.com/?p=119

We’ve been hearing a lot about the swine flu, or the H1N1 virus. It was given pandemic status by the World Health Organization in 2009, and many people have been concerned about it. Of course, the H1N1 virus was not the first pandemic, and it certainly won’t be the last. If you want to be prepared for the next pandemic — and kept up to date — here are 50 tools and tips to bookmark so that you are ready for next time:

Government Information and Resources

One of the best places to go is the government if you are looking for up-to-date information on pandemics and tools to track outbreaks. Here are some government and public health information resources that can help you in the event of a pandemic.

1. PandemicFlu.gov: Just what it sounds like, this site is set up to help you keep up with the latest developments in a pandemic flu situation.
2. Office of Medical Services Pandemic Influenza Plan: This site provides the plan for dealing with widespread illness, developed by the U.S. State Department.
3. Department of Health and Human Services: Turn to the HHS if you are interested in the latest news and tips for dealing with any current public health emergency.
4. Centers for Disease Control: This site contains tips for protecting yourself and includes outbreak maps for pandemics.
5. UN Pandemic Influenza Contingency: See the United Nations plan for pandemic preparedness, and get tips on personal protection.
6. World Health Organization: This site offers alerts on global pandemics and coordinates worldwide responses. You can get helpful tips on protecting yourself, as well as helping to organize relief efforts.
7. Public Health Agency of Canada: Get information from Canada about public health threats and how to protect yourself from pandemics.
8. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: The European Union has its own web site devoted to helping to track pandemics and provide information.
9. American Red Cross: This is not a government resource, but the Red Cross does have valuable public health information and tips for what to do in a pandemic situation.

General Pandemic Preparedness

Be prepared for a pandemic, or any other health emergency. These sites offer helpful insights and tools for general emergency preparation.

10. Ready America: This is a U.S. government site that is devoted to emergency preparedness, and can help you get yourself ready in advance for the next pandemic.
11. Top 20 Ways to Prepare for a Pandemic: This helpful tip sheet is from the British Columbia Ministry of Health Services.
12. Pandemic Influenza: What You Can Do To Be Ready: The Minnesota Department of Health offers a handy list of things you can do to prepare for a pandemic.
13. Answers to Swine Flu Questions: Get the answers to the most important H1N1 questions from CNN.
14. Swine Flu FAQ: Not everything is covered in the CNN list, so you can read this FAQ from WebMD to get a little more information.
15. Oregon Public Health Emergency Preparedness: This site, while aimed at Oregonians, also provides helpful information for anyone else interested in tools and tips. Check your own state for something similar.
16. Flu Checklist: Use this checklist from the Red Cross to determine if you are ready for a pandemic.
17. Questions About Swine Flu: The New York Times provides a video about swine flu and how you can protect yourself from a pandemic.

Family Preparedness

You want to make sure that your family is properly prepared for a pandemic. Here are some helpful resources to help you make a plan for family preparedness.

18. Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide for Individuals and Families: Get help on how to create a plan, and learn the differences between protecting yourself from seasonal flu and a strain of pandemic flu.
19. Make a Plan: This emergency preparedness site helps you make a plan for emergencies, including a form to help you get started.
20. Family Emergency Planning: While this is aimed at members of the LDS Church through the Provident Living site, the tools and tips can help any family with emergency planning.
21. How to Swine Flu Proof You and Your Family: This is a helpful guide from eHow on how to get your family prepared for and protected from pandemic flu.
22. Talking with Children about a Flu Pandemic: Helpful tips and resources on explaining a pandemic to your children.
23. Preparing for Pandemic Flu: A Family Checklist Video: This video is helpful for families who are interested in preparing for pandemics.
24. Let’s Get Ready!: This resource from Sesame Workshop helps you get ready for emergencies with your family.
25. Pandemic Flu…What to do, what to do!: This is a kids’ page from the National Institutes of Health aimed at helping children learn about public health emergency preparedness.

Online Tools

Interested in keeping track of pandemics online? Want the latest information and emergency tips? You can use these online tools to stay updated during the next pandemic.

26. Google Alerts: Set up alerts using desired keywords to help you get the latest information delivered right to your inbox.
27. QuickShare My Emergency Information: This tools helps you create an email message with emergency information that can be easily and quickly shared with the important people in your life.
28. Twitter: Everyone is on Twitter. And it can also help you find tips and news updates on pandemics. Search keywords and use hashtags to find the latest.
29. Global Map of Pandemic Risk: This offering from Maplecroft is accessible through docstoc and can help you see where the biggest pandemic threats are.
30. CDCemergency: This is the Twitter account for the CDC’s emergency updates. Follow to get tips and resource hints from the Centers for Disease Control.
31. HealthMap: This global disease map offers an interactive resource to keep you updated on pandemics.
32. Where You Live: This interactive map from Flu.gov helps you find out what is happening where you are right now.
33. Widgets from HHS: The Health and Human Services deparment has widgets that can direct readers to the latest pandemic information.
34. Google Maps: Where there is a pandemic, there is a Google Map that can help you plot it out. Most recently, there was a Swine Flu map with confirmed and probable cases.

iPhone Apps

You can track disease outbreaks and pandemics with the help of your iPhone.

35. Outbreaks Near Me: This app from the Children’s Hospital in Boston helps you find local pockets of disease.
36. FDA Mobile: Get the latest health information and tips for protecting yourself while on the go from the Food and Drug Administration.
37. Mobile World Disaster: If you want to know immediately when disaster strikes, this iPhone app will keep you in the loop.
38. HealthMap: This is an iPhone app that can help you see, on your phone, exactly where health issues are most prevalent.
39. Diagnose the Disease: This app is designed to help you identify diseases. While not a true substitute for a medical professional, it can nevertheless provide some needed help and information.
40. CDC News Reader: Get the latest from the Centers for Disease Control — no matter where you are.
41. PEPID Elements Infections Disease & Travel Medicine: Keep track of where diseases are, and what you can do to protect yourself with this handy iPhone app.
42. Emergency Radio: This iPhone app lets you listen in to emergency radio stations from all around the country in order to get the latest information.

Pandemic Tips

You want to be adequately prepared, and you also want to be calm and collected. Here are some tips that can help you protect yourself in a pandemic situation.

43. Wash your hands: You want to be as clean as possible. One of the best things you can do to protect yourself from a pandemic is to properly wash your hands.
44. First Aid kit: Put together, or purchase, a First Aid kit that can be used in a number of situations, including a pandemic.
45. Have a stockpile: Before a pandemic hits, make sure you have some food storage, as well as emergency money. You should also have other items on hand, in the event you are in the house for an extended period of time.
46. Telecommute: If you have a job that can be performed, at least temporarily, from home, ask about telecommuting to avoid being involved in the spread of a pandemic.
47. Consider a facemask: If you are truly concerned, you can find CDC approved facemasks to help protect you from a pandemic.
48. Stay healthy: Maintaining healthy diet, exercise and sleep habits can keep your immune system in good shape, helping you ward off pandemic illness.
49. Be educated: Learn about what to do, and how to do it. Get information from reliable sources so that you are prepared for a pandemic situation.
50. Don’t panic: It is very important to realize that pandemics have been happening throughout history. If you prepare properly and take precautions, you can reduce your chances of falling victim.
]]> http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/50-tools-and-tips-to-bookmark-for-the-next-pandemic/feed/ 0 http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/top-10-diseases-made-famous-by-celebrities/ http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/top-10-diseases-made-famous-by-celebrities/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:07:34 +0000 Miranda http://masterofhealthadministration.com/?p=92

We may sometimes scoff when celebrities start promoting causes, or trying to raise awareness of certain situations or diseases, but the truth of the matter is that in some cases we may not even be made aware that something exists without a little celebrity intervention. When it comes to somewhat rare diseases, the issue becomes even more obscure for many. The bottom line is that the fame that celebrities have can shed light on diseases that you might not have heard of. And if you, or someone you love, ends up with that disease, you’ll probably be glad if a celebrity, somewhere, is willing to bring his or her clout to the cause. Here are 10 diseases made famous by celebrities:

1. Testicular Cancer (Lance Armstrong): Very people were willing to talk about testicular cancer before Lance Armstrong came along. However, when Lance Armstrong, the famous road racing cyclist, admitted that he suffered from the disease, the condition achieved instant celebrity. Armstrong’s determination to continue excelling at his sport, and his subsequent record-breaking, seventh win at the Tour de France, provides inspiration for cancer survivors everywhere. Since then, Armstrong has become more than a spokesman bringing awareness of testicular cancer; he has started his own foundation, the Live Strong Foundation, for all types of cancer research, and single-handedly started a fashion trend for rubber bracelets to raise awareness of a cause.
2. Colorectal Cancer (Katie Couric): Katie Couric is known for her former role on the “Today” show, as well as for being the first female anchor for a network nightly news program. But she is also known for bringing colorectal cancer to light. It took her many years after her husband’s death to begin speaking about colon cancer, but she began to become more outspoken as her pain began to heal. She put together a special series for the “Today” show on colon cancer, and continues to be a spokesperson for the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, which she helped found. The alliance is one that focuses on efforts to get the entertainment industry involved in spreading the word about this common, but not often talked about, cancer.
3. Sickle Cell Disease (Kiki Shepard): A little-known disease that affects predominantly black women is sickle cell disease. In order to bring awareness to this disease, Kiki Shepard routinely holds a celebrity bowling event to raise funds. Shepard is known as the long-time co-host of the television program “It’s Showtime at the Apollo.” She is also known as the “Queen of Fashion” in some circles. She has done acting and voice acting as well. Sickle cell disease falls into main types, including Sickle Cell Anemia, Sickle-Hemoglobin C Disease, Sickle Beta-Plus Thalassemia and Sickle Beta-Zero Thalassemia. Shepard’s bowling evening routinely brings out such stars as Tatyana Ali, James Pickens, Jr., Loretta Devine and DJ MC Lyte.
4. Parkinson’s Disease (Michael J. Fox): This degenerative disease did not get a lot of play on the national airwaves until Michael J. Fox revealed that he suffers from the disease. This is a disease that eventually results in the inability to move, and it also results in an inability to communicate clearly. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are treatments that can slow its progression. Michael J. Fox made drew even more attention to Parkinson’s — and created a controversy — when he appeared in ads about the disease and stem cell research, as well as appearing before Congress to give testimony, without taking the medication that keeps his tremors in check. He did so in order to provide a visual of what Parkinson’s disease does to the body.
5. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (Lou Gehrig): You probably still haven’t heard of ALS. But that’s because, for the most part, no one calls it that anymore. Instead, you probably know ALS as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. At the time that Lou Gehrig had to stop playing for the Yankees, due in part to the ravages of ALS, he was one of the most well-known and beloved public figures. As a result, the entire diseased was sub-titled with his name. The ALS Association still works to raise funds to help those with the disease, and ease the symptoms. Like so many other diseases, there is no cure for ALS, but there is hope that Lou Gehrig’s Disease might some day be defeated.
6. Thyroid problems (Oprah Winfrey): Many of us are unaware of the gland in the body known as the thyroid gland. It is large as endocrine glands go, but you would probably be unimpressed by its size. It is located in the front part of the neck. The thyroid and its gland can cause a number of problems, including issues with weight. In 2007, Oprah Winfrey brought awareness of thyroid problems to the forefront by sharing that she had been diagnosed with a thyroid gland problem. While there are different reasons for thyroid problems, the bottom line is that once this is identified, many health and weight problems can be better managed.
7. Craniosynostosis (Jorge Posada): Jorge Posada is one of the best loved and recognizable players for the Yankees baseball team today. He has been acknowledged a great catcher and a fairly consistent hitter. Posada also has a child affected by craniosynostosis. This disease is defect of the brain that involves closure, prematurely, of the joints between the joints of skull. Surgery can be used to help alleviate the problem, but it is expensive. Posada set up a foundation designed to help provide emotional support and financial assistance to families affected by this problem.
8. Neuroblastoma (Tom Hanks): One of the most devastating diseases that affects children and infants is neuroblastoma. This is a type of cancerous tumor that attacks nerve tissue. The disease can cause a number of issues, including abdominal swelling, rapid pulse and breathing problems. Surgery can be attempted in order to help the condition, and other therapies are available. Tom Hanks has long been a spokesperson for raising awareness of neuroblastoma on behalf of the James Fund. Hanks was inspired by a young boy’s fight with neuroblastoma (which ended with his death at the age of eight), and wrote the forward to a book authored by the boy’s father.
9. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (Montel Williams): One of the reasons that multiple sclerosis (MS) is so well-known today is due to the efforts of former talk show host Montel Williams. When Williams shared that he was afflicted with MS, it managed to become more prominent on the national scene. Williams started his own foundation dedicated to fighting MS, and providing funding for organizations and research that attempt to find a cure for the diseases and look at ways to slow the disease. He also wrote a book about his fight with the disease. MS is one of those diseases that cannot be cured, but that can be countered with certain lifestyle choices and actions to help slow the effects of progress.
10. Autism (Doug Flutie): We hear about autism quite a bit these days. But it wasn’t always that way. Diagnosis of autism, and the recognition that there are different forms of the condition, have made leaps since Doug Flutie, Jr., the football player, first started a foundation in an effort to help his autistic son, and others like him. Autism has since become more recognized, and a number of conditions have been put on the “autism spectrum”. Flutie’s foundation provides emotional and financial support for families who are affected by autism. Without Flutie’s efforts, autism may not have the resources that it has today.
]]> http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/top-10-diseases-made-famous-by-celebrities/feed/ 0 http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/10-useful-iphone-apps-that-track-disease-outbreaks/ http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/10-useful-iphone-apps-that-track-disease-outbreaks/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:48:48 +0000 Miranda http://masterofhealthadministration.com/?p=67

With the new iPhone release, it is clear that more than ever can be done with this device. Indeed, the new sophistication of the iPhone means that it can be all about your health, and doing what you can to remain healthy. Additionally, with the new ability to be more connected than ever before, the iPhone offers you the chance to get the latest health information, and to keep track of where you are most likely to see health threats. Whether you want to keep track of your own symptoms, or whether you want to know how to watch out for others, here are 10 useful iPhone apps that can help you track disease outbreaks.

1. Outbreaks Near Me

Get the latest information on local disease outbreaks. Right now, the most popular use of this app is to track the swine flu. This iPhone app is a “grassroots” epidemiology effort based on HealthMap. It is possible for you to check the app and see whether a disease outbreak has been reported in your area. You can upload your own information and create your own reports using Outbreaks Near Me.

This app was developed by researchers at Children’s Hospital in Boston, along with help from the MIT Media Lab. It does more than track swine flu — it can trace outbreaks from a number of infectious diseases.

2. Mobile World Disaster

If you are looking to keep track of what’s going on in the world, Mobile World Disaster news is a good choice. This iPhone app, developed by Crossgates AC, provides a helpful search feature, and includes Meta tags to make things easier for you. You can receive emergency updates about a number of disasters, from earthquakes to tornadoes to hurricanes.

And it’s not just natural disasters. Mobile World Disaster can help you stay on top of epidemics and pandemics. If you are concerned about travel to distant places, you can check to see what kinds of diseases you will have to worry about. This app also helps you track the spread of pandemics, and keeps you informed with the latest news. It’s no surprise that, right now, the most recent version has been updated with helpful information on Swine Flu.

3. Swine Flu News Tracker

Concerned about swine flu? Well, now you can keep track of the latest news with regard to swine flu. Crossgates AC has taken the same type of technology used for the Mobile World Disaster iPhone app and applied it specifically to swine flu. If you are more concerned about what is being considered the next pandemic (especially this fall as back to school is expected to see an increase in swine flu), this app can help keep you abreast of what is going on.

Swine Flu News Tracker includes information on where the latest outbreaks are, and what others are doing to combat the disease. Additionally, this iPhone app includes helpful information on how to protect yourself and your family from swine flu, and tracks where the disease is most prevalent in the world — so you can avoid it.

4. Influenza A (H1N1) Tracker

This is another iPhone app based on the public’s desire to keep up with the swine flu. This is a very simple application from Web it Up. This application is designed to help you keep track of where the swine flu is, how many people have been infected, and how many deaths there have been. It’s actually rather helpful, since the information is arranged by country.

For the United States, the information is further broken down according to state. If you are interested in knowing where the swine flu is most active, and where it is doing the most damage, it is relatively easy to find that information in a very simple format. This application also includes the assessment level offered by the World Health Organization.

5. FDA Mobile

This is a neat application straight from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you are looking for the latest health news and disease outbreak information, you can have delivered straight to your iPhone. It is possible to get the latest on disease epidemics, and to track smaller outbreaks. Right now, of course, the main focus for many people is the swine flu. However, the FDA Mobile app can provide information for any disease that threatens to go pandemic. Updates with press reports of the spread of the disease, along with the latest WHO assessment, can be had quickly and easily.

You can also get access to non-outbreak related information. Find FDA warnings (searchable) on products and services. Find human clinical trials data, look for drug shortage information and get the latest news and releases, including the latest medical devices and treatments to be approved. This app is helpful on a number of levels that have to do with your health.

6. CDC News Reader

The Centers for Disease Control is one of the places to go if you want the latest disease outbreak information. You can get all of the latest happenings in the world of infectious diseases right on your iPhone. This news reader takes the top stories issued from the CDC, and sends them to you. This includes outbreaks, such as a multi-state E. Coli outbreak, and even the swine flu. If you want to track diseases and see where the danger lies, the CDC News Reader can keep you informed. A share feature can help you keep those you love in the loop as well.

In addition to tracking diseases, the CDC News Reader also provides other useful information, including emergency preparedness, environmental health alerts, travel notices and other updates. The application also includes a landscape mode, so that you can get a better view.

7. PEPID Elements: Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine

This iPhone application is ideal for the traveler. If you are concerned about what sort of disease you might get when you travel overseas, you can consult this iPhone app for an idea of what’s out there. Not only can this application help you figure out where you are most likely to catch something, but it can actually help you identify whether or not you have it. You can get advice on how to manage infectious diseases, and steps you can take to curb its spread.

This iPhone app also offers dynamic medical calculators and provides information on drug interactions, possibilities and more. The Platinum version, designed for physicians, also has helpful features that can help those who practice medicine better perform their duties.

8. Swine Flu Tracker

IntuApps has the Swine Flu Tracker. This can help you keep track of where the swine flu, and where it might be going. This application is aimed specifically at travelers who still want to globe trot — but in relative safety. Swine Flu Tracker makes use of Google Maps to help you monitor the spread of the disease.

In addition to providing travel warnings and information about the global spread of swine flu (including World Health Organization data), this app also includes helpful information on symptoms of swine flu, what to do if you think you have become infected. This interactive application also features information from the CDC and other respected sources, helping you sift fact from fiction when it comes to the most recent pandemic.

9. The Swine Flu Tracker

This final swine flu app is available from GPS Kit developer Garafa. The company uses its GPS savvy to create a disease outbreak tracker that can help you keep tabs on a number of diseases. Right now, swine flu is quite understandably the focus. However, the app is not limited to swine flu. Other infectious diseases can be tracked using this application, and it also includes information on the disease in question.

Using a map, you can visually see where there have been confirmed cases of the disease in question, as well as see where deaths have taken place. The application works world wide, so you can check up on different countries, and see the places you should avoid.

10. iEmergency

It isn’t exactly a disease tracker, but if you succumb to something, iEmergency can help. This iPhone app by KAVAPOINT is designed to provide your health and emergency information to others if you are incapacitated. The idea is that you can store your allergies, an emergency contact and other information on you iPhone, to be seen if there is a problem. You can even create a lock banner if your iPhone is password protected. There is also one touch emergency calling to make things easier to get in touch with your emergency contacts.

There really is no substitute for peace of mind. You never know when an emergency will come, and you can use this app to make sure you are prepared — and make sure that your loved ones are contacted and know what happened.

]]> http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/10-useful-iphone-apps-that-track-disease-outbreaks/feed/ 2 http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/top-50-medical-career-blogs/ http://masterofhealthadministration.com/2009/top-50-medical-career-blogs/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:49:52 +0000 Miranda http://masterofhealthadministration.com/?p=59

If you are looking for a career in the medical field, there is a wide array of choices. Indeed, medical careers range from physicians to insurance coders to medical sales professionals. There are a number of opportunities to be involved in a medical career, and to find fulfilling (and sometimes well-paying) work. Here are 50 medical blogs that can help you find your way in the medical field:

Medical Job Blogs

These are blogs that focus on helping you find a job in the medical field.

1. Non-Clinical Medical Jobs, Careers and Opportunities: Looks at different aspects of non-clinical medical work. Provides opportunities and leads, as well as helpful and information articles.
2. Jobs-2o: Blog, forum and job board that provides postings on medical job openings and career helps.
3. Premier Health Careers: Looks at medical and health care careers and includes job openings.
4. BioJobBlog: Features information on what is happening in the world of medical and clinical careers. Special emphasis on pharmaceutical careers.
5. Healthcare Executive Careers Blog: Offers insight into healthcare executive careers, as well as providing insight into job openings and how to find a job as a health care exec.

Doctor Blogs

Learn about what it’s like to be a physician, and get insight into what it takes to be a successful doctor.

6. Physician Careers Blog: Learn about how to prepare your materials and market yourself as a doctor. What it takes to get hired as a doctor.
7. GruntDoc: Looks at everyday doctoring — from the perspective of someone who once a doctor in the military.
8. Doctor Anonymous: Follow the life of a family care physician living in Ohio.
9. Surgeonsblog: Find out what it’s like to be a surgeon, and explore some of the issues involved in health care.
10. KevinMD: One of the best blogs focusing on the medical and health care world and the issues that doctors face.

Nursing Blogs

Learn about what it’s like to be a nurse, and how to become a nurse.

11. madness: tales of an emergency room nurse: Get a down and dirty look at what it’s like working as a nurse in the emergency room.
12. St. Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst – Male Nurses: An interesting look at male nurses and what goes on in their world, with an Australian perspective.
13. Misadventurous Melissa: Follows the adventures of someone who is a nurse and an attorney. An interesting career path.
14. Nurse Healers: Blog that highlights the healing aspect of nursing.
15. Psychonurse’s Padded Cell: Critical care nurse shares the ins and outs of her day.
16. Nurse Practitioner’s Place: Focuses on what it is to be a practicing nurse.

Dentist and Orthodontist Blogs

Working on teeth can be an interesting career. Learn about it first time from these dentists and orthodontists.

17. The Tooth Booth Dental Blog: Learn about what is happening in the world of dentistry, and about a day in the life of a dentist.
18. Marty Jablow DMD: Find out about dentistry and what the issues involved in working with teeth.
19. About.com Dental Care: A great blog that focuses on different aspects of dental care and dentistry.
20. The Dental Implant Blog: Learn about what it’s like working with dental implants and how to use it as a career.
21. Exceptional Dental Practice Management: Learn about properly managing your dental practice.
22. Ask Dr. Straight Orthodontic Blog: Find out more about orthodontics and what goes into it as a career.

Radiology Blogs

One of the medical careers in highest demand is radiology. Learn about this exciting career path.

23. Dave’s Places in Radiology: A blog for imaging professionals, focusing on how you can do your job better.
24. Why?: The thoughts of an x-ray tech on life and radiology.
25. Radiology 101: Learn more about radiology as a career, and what it takes to make it.
26. Aunt Minnie: Keep up to date on the latest in radiology, and issues facing health care.
27. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Medicine Podcast: Listen to the latest news in radiology and nuclear medicine, and learn about career tips and issues.

Alternative Medicine Blogs

Find a career in alternative medicine. Holistic healing and wellness can make a great career.

28. Next Generation Chiropractor: Looks at what it takes to be a chiropractor today, and offers helpful career and practice hints.
29. The Chiropractic Blog: Helpful information on how to improve your chiropractic practice.
30. Massage Geeks: A blog about massage therapy and how you can enhance your skills and practice.
31. Acupuncture Health Blog: Takes a look at practicing acupuncture and how it can enhance health.

Medical Assisting Blogs

Learn about becoming a medical assistant, and the health careers involved. Hygienists included in this batch of blogs.

32. Medical Assistant Net Career Blog: Get helpful hints on being a better medical assistant and finding job openings.
33. The American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistant’s Blog: Review job openings and post your own seeking employment wishes on this blog. Also includes helpful and informative articles.
34. the musings of a modern hygienist: Learn about what it’s like to be a dental hygienist.
35. Medical Assistant Jobs: Get a job in medical assisting. Learn helpful career tips, as well as see job postings.
36. American Dental Hygienists’ Association MySpace Blog: Find out about networking events and receive helpful information on being a hygienist.

Medical Billing, Coding and Transcription

There are jobs in the administrative end of the medical profession. This includes billing clients, doing insurance coding and transcription for doctors. Some of these jobs can even be done from home.

37. Medical Billing Blog: Provides career advice and tips on being successful as a medical biller.
38. Medical Coding and Billing Blog: Information about coding and billing, as well as helpful information on getting started in the business.
39. Your Medical Coding Career: Looks at how you can improve and sell yourself as a medical coder.
40. Medical Transcription Blog: Follow a career path as a medical transcriptionist.
41. Medical-Transcriptionist-Specialist.com: Learn about job openings and helpful tips to help you start a career in medical transcription.

Medical Sales

One career path you can follow in the medical field is to sell supplies and drugs to doctors and hospitals. Provide needed equipment.

42. Specialty Medical Sales Blog: Learn about how to be more successful at medical sales.
43. Medical Sales Recruiter: Find out what hiring managers are looking for in a salesperson.
44. Pharmaceutical Sales Blog: Sell pharma for a learning. Learn what employers are looking for, and improve your technique.
45. CafePharma: Provides insight into the pharmaceutical industry. Aimed at pharma sales professionals.

Student Blogs

Learn from students pursuing various medical careers.

46. Mexico Medical Student Blog: Follow the adventures of a medical student in Mexico.
47. Medical Student Blog: Learn about how to be a better student and about issues facing the health care profession.
48. RNLife.com: This nursing student blog looks at health care issues and addresses better practices.
49. Not Another Nursing Student Blog: Humorous look at what it’s like as a nursing student.
50. Ashley’s USF Blog: A helpful look at what it’s like to be a radiology student.
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