Time to reassess
By rllamas | January 28, 2010
Time to reassess
By Ramon P. Llamas, MPH
“Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless without it.” – William Temple
I recently read “Wake-up Call” by Erika Lovley in Politico this week and my suspicions have been confirmed through anecdotal evidence: people working in Washington, especially those working on Capitol Hill, are extremely stressed out. Having moved to DC last June from California, I first noticed it back in 2008 when I spent a summer here as an intern. It’s the culture to work non-stop. And it’s hard not to. Just take a look around – people almost jogging to the metro because they walk so fast; reading reports on the metro and constant communication through their trusty smartphone, among others. The death of Paula Nowakowski, Chief of staff for John Boehner, serves as a wake up call for everyone in Washington. Slow down and relax, people. Paula passed at the age of 46 from a heart attack. Lovley describes that her lifestyle probably contributed to her passing because “she smoked, she didn’t always eat well, and she often worked seven days a week.” Other Hill staffers have developed health problems as well. From Type 1 diabetes to high blood pressure, the consequences of constant, unrelenting stress can take its toll. Despite one’s passion for the job and work, is it worth the health consequences you develop in return? Is there anything you can do?
A publication from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) recommends the following: maintain a balance between your professional and personal life; have access to a supportive social network of friends and family and maintain a relaxed, positive outlook on life. Early warning signs of job-induced stress include headaches, sleep disturbance, difficulty in concentrating, short temper, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction and low morale. If left untreated, the following health problems have been correlated to job-induced stress: musculoskeletal disorders, psychological disorders, workplace injury, ulcers, impaired immune function, cancer , heart disease and suicide. The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge that it is there. From that point you can plan accordingly. Mayoclinic.com offers some ideas to relieve stress:
*Keep a log. Track everything you do for one week. Include work-related and non-work-related activities. Decide what’s necessary and what satisfies you the most. Cut or delegate activities you don’t enjoy and don’t have time for. If you don’t have the authority to make certain decisions, talk to your supervisor.
*Learn to say no. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to spearhead an extra project or your child’s teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that it’s OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you’ll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.
*Leave work at work. With today’s global business mentality and the technology to connect to anyone at any time from virtually anywhere, there’s no boundary between work and home — unless you create it. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer.
*Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary.
*Fight the guilt. Remember, having a family and a job is OK — for both men and women.
*Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music. Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga, or taking a bath or shower.
*Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate you.
*Protect your day off. Try to schedule some of your routine chores on workdays so that your days off are more relaxing.
*Get enough sleep. There’s nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you’re sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.
If you’ve been able to find a great balance between work and personal life, share your story with me at ramonl@menshealthnetwork.net!
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Topics: Lifestyle Issues, Well-being, Workplace Issues | No Comments »
Beyond Health Care
By spatel | January 25, 2010
By Ramon P. Llamas, MPH
Health reform has been a topic of great importance here in Washington for the past few months since discussions and debates have intensified in June, 2009. Health reform, however, has primarily focused on one aspect of health – health care. In the broader sense, though, health encompasses a wider reach. For example, health professionals are more likely to acknowledge that culture, race, gender, socioeconomic status (SES) and education, among others, all contribute to an individual’s health status in one way or another. These factors, known collectively as the social determinants of health, continue to gain interest. The Office of Minority Health (OMH), under the Department of Health and Human Services, has issued the National Plan for Action, which sets out a framework to reduce health disparities that result from the various social determinants.
During my brief time here at MHN, I have been fortunate enough to attend two large conferences – the Virginia Health Equality Conference in September and the American Public Health Association’s Annual Conference in November. As a result of attending these events, I met and had discussions with researchers in the field. I highlight a few of them below:
“Sex in Medicine Week: A student-organized educational intervention and its assessment” by Francesca I. Decker and Michael A. Joseph, PhD, MPH from SUNY Downstate.
Background – There is a lack of provider initiative regarding patient sexual health which decreases quality of patient care. Many studies describe this problem but few programs exist to address its causes, and few tools exist to assess existing programs’ effectiveness.
Methods – Student-organized series of lectures and workshops on patient sexual health to educate medical students in order to increase their quality of care post-graduation.
Results – Over 100 students attended and found workshops interesting (100%) as well as useful (98.3%).
“Health Literacy Education and Communication in the Philadelphia Immigrant Community” by Anna M. Quinn, Maura A. Murphy and Katie E. Thomas of Thomas Jefferson University.
Background – Immigrants are less likely to speak to their healthcare providers about diet and exercise than those born in the U.S.
Methods – MPH students worked with two to three ESL students for a specified time and conducted health education and promotion. The sessions discussed local resources for medical care and culturally sensitive health behaviors for each ESL student. Additionally, the MPH students provided ESL students with reviewed health materials.
Results – ESL students reported higher comprehension as well as improved language skills. Additionally, ESL students became more familiar with local resources such as clinics, food banks, farmers’ markets and government services.
Health is an immensely important part of our lives – it is essential to live, work, play and pray, therefore, we should each treat it as a higher priority. We can no longer depend on health care to determine our health status. We must each take a more proactive role in becoming and staying healthy.
If you have any questions or have any ideas on how to empower individuals to take charge of their health, please do not hesitate to contact me at ramonl@menshealthnetwork.net.
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The Business Case for an Office of Men’s Health
By spatel | January 19, 2010
By Adam Dougherty, MPH
Below is an excerpt from a forthcoming study that I authored, which investigates the federal costs associated with excess disease burden in men in an attempt to substantiate the need for a federal Office of Men’s Health.
Despite the increased risk of disease and injury, the health of men is oft an overlooked subject. Men have significantly higher death rates in nine of the ten top leading causes of death, higher rates of smoking and overweight/obesity, are more often uninsured, and are far less likely to receive routine preventive care. While the moral imperative is evident in reducing health disparities, merely stating the effort is “the right thing to do” often may not provide sufficient motivation to act. Linking the issue to financial incentives, though, gets many more people talking, especially when it’s your tax dollars at work.
The resulting costs of premature morbidity and mortality in men are substantial, particularly so to the federal government in the form of direct medical costs and survivor benefits. Men are at worse health as they enter Medicare, causing substantially higher costs to the program. Excess Medicaid hospital payments for uncompensated care to uninsured men and lost federal revenue as a result of disease burden, disability, and death contribute to excess federal costs. Public benefits for low-income widows and families are substantial as a result of premature death in men including Social Security survivor benefits, Medicaid and Medicare low-income subsidies, and the Food Stamp program.
Across the nation we should dedicate our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of men, though no organized federal entity is present to provide sustained leadership and national directives. A commitment to prevention and health promotion in men will help curb this expenditure growth and create effective social norms by breaking through the stigma associated with men who avoid seeking care. The time has come for the creation of a federal Office of Men’s Health. A recognized federal focus can act as the apex of promoting healthy lifestyle, workforce safety, and male-specific research advocacy. For more information on the creation of a federal Office of Men’s Health, see H.R. 2115 “The Men and Families Health Care Act of 2009”, Hill [D-ID] and Murphy [R-PA].
Topics: Public Policy | No Comments »
More Money, More Problems
By spatel | January 1, 2010
By Ramon P. Llamas, MPH
First of all, Happy New Year!
USA Today featured a comprehensive story on college football coaches and their total salaries (breakdowns of base salaries and bonuses, etc.) in early November. The highest paid coaches in 2009 lead the most prestigious football programs in the country, including Pete Carroll of Southern California, Bob Stoops of Oklahoma and Urban Meyers of Florida, among others. The aforementioned coaches made at least $4 million dollars in total salary in 2009 (access the full list here). $4 million. A salary of $4 million is higher than most professions, but unfortunately the pressures of receiving such a salary can take their toll. Urban Meyer, for example, recently resigned from his coaching job at the University of Florida due to recent health problems, in which Meyer lost consciousness and was admitted to the hospital. Fortunately for Meyer, there was no heart damage. But he had been experiencing chest pains for the past two years. He reportedly lost 20 pounds during a 10-day period around the SEC title game against arch-rival Alabama. A competitive drive and relentlessness such as Meyer’s are shared, to some degree, by many. It is this same drive that leads to burn out and potential health problems. It is important to be aware of warning signs and symptoms and to discuss any concerns with a physician. Take note of changes and the duration of those changes. For example, weight loss in the past 10 days resulting from a loss of appetite. It is important that each of us takes a more proactive role in maintain our health and well-being, both physically and mentally. Physicians cannot be relied upon to solve all of our health care problems; their job is done more accurately and efficiently when we are fully engaged and assist them in the process.
For this new year, I encourage each of you to reflect on what your health means to you. Remember that health is a resource for living. It is our vehicle to enjoy all that life has to offer, whether it’s traveling, sports, cooking, music or the arts. I wish each of you a healthy and prosperous 2010!
If you have any questions or comments, please drop me a line at ramonl@menshealthnetwork.net.
Topics: Family Issues, Lifestyle Issues, Medical Issues, Sports Issues, Well-being, Workplace Issues | No Comments »
Head Injuries in the NFL and Beyond
By spatel | December 14, 2009
Head Injuries in the NFL and Beyond
by Adam Dougherty, MPH
There are few things more satisfying than watching a rival quarterback receive a blind-side sack or seeing your team’s DB lay out a receiver on an incomplete pass in slow-mo. Of course, this is only true as long as the recipient is able to get up and walk off the field, as nobody would actually wish physical injury on another person no matter how hated the opponent. Beyond their immediate well-being, though, physical health needs to be thought about in longer-term scenarios, particularly on the topic that has recently received some much-deserved attention: head injuries.
In 1994, the NFL began a comprehensive clinical research study of mild traumatic brain injury analyzing data between 1996 and 2001 by gathering information from team physicians, studying game video, and experimenting the biomechanics of an impact. Though useful in terms of understanding the injuries themselves and improving protective equipment, the study was inconclusive in establishing a link between football and later head/brain injury. Since the investigation, the NFL has received ample criticism for not adequately addressing the possible link between football-related head injuries and mental decline later in life, and the debate finally came to fruition; several weeks ago, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing to investigate football-related head injuries and their long-term effect on the brain. Testimony was received from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, members of the NFL’s Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee, former football players, and several prominent neurosurgeons. The committee concluded that the NFL needs to take better responsibility for its players given the organization’s profitability and exposure, and research needs to focus on the later cognitive effects of sustained head impacts, such as dementia, depression, and mental degradation.
You may ask, why am I focusing on a workforce of some 2,000 active professional football players and 10,000 retired players? Why would a Congressional Committee and numerous media outlets invest their time and money into the health of this handful of millionaires? I would answer you that the NFL is the spearhead of sports behavior for millions of athletes from the college level to high school to peewee football, and the organization should act as an industry leader promoting healthy social norms. I would also answer you that this subject matter can be used as an example for employee health across a spectrum of ‘risky’ employment, of which men are much more likely to be a part. Be it a coal miner, construction worker, military officer, or any other paying job subject to physical hazard, it is important to understand how these professions affect the mental and physical health of the workforce. Employers have a responsibility to recognize and protect the individuals sustaining their business, and foster research of safe and health workplace practice.
Resources:
House Judiciary Committee Hearing on Legal Issues Relating to Football Head Injuries, 10/28/2009, Hearing Information at http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_091028.html
ELLIOT J. PELLMAN, M.D., AND DAVID C. VIANO, DR. MED., PH.D. Summary of the research conducted by the National Football League’s Committee on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurosurgery Focus, 2006, 21, (4) E12 1-10 http://thejns.org/doi/pdf/10.3171/foc.2006.21.4.13
McKee AC, Cantu RC, Nowinski CJ, Hedley-Whyte ET, Gavett BE, Budson AE, Santini VE, Lee H-Y, Kubilus CA, Stern RA. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes: Progressive tauopathy after repetitive head injury. J Neuropath Exp Neurol, 2009, 68(7): 709.735. http://www.bu.edu/alzresearch/team/faculty/documents/CTE-JNENJuly.pdf
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Surviving the Holidays
By spatel | December 7, 2009
by Brandon Leonard, MA
It seems the holiday season starts earlier every year. Even before Thanksgiving, retailers had taken the opportunity to roll out the lights and specialty goods for a host of upcoming holidays. In some ways, this can be exciting: many people associate this time of year with favorite traditions, time with family and old friends, and a good excuse to enjoy lots of food and entertainment.
On the other hand, the stretch from now till early January can also be daunting or even depressing for some people. Getting everything perfect for family get-togethers or concerts and doing all that last minute shopping is often stressful, and tight budgets this year will further complicate things. This is also a difficult time of year for those who have lost loved ones and wish they could be here for the holidays, or for those who have strained relationships with family.
Through the challenges, as well as the frantic celebration, it’s good to keep some perspective on what these holidays are all about. It was never supposed to be a time to see how many perfect gifts you could buy for others, or to find out who has the best yard decorations. No matter what your faith tradition, these weeks are a little sliver of the year that we cut out to be grateful for what we have. It’s important to take some time out of the schedule for yourself and think about what really matters to you, and what you are grateful for in that moment. Maybe that’s your child, your job, your partner, your health, or a commitment that you can make to yourself to improve some area of your life.
I hope that you’ll take that time out this holiday season – a time we are told to think of others (a very noble suggestion) and consider your own well-being. After all, if you are coming to life from a place of poverty or ill health, it is hard to make others comfortable and well. For some more tips on taking care of yourself at this time of year, the Mayo Clinic has given great tips to prevent the holiday stress and depression:
- Acknowledge your feelings.
- Reach out.
- Be realistic.
- Set aside differences.
- Stick to a budget.
- Plan ahead.
- Learn to say no.
- Don’t abandon healthy habits.
- Take a breather.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/MH00030
Here’s a link to the rest of the article from the Mayo Clinic where you can read more about the bullet points and about handling holiday stress. Be well, and don’t lose sight of what the season is all about: gratitude.
Topics: Family Issues, Well-being | No Comments »
A Relaxing Holiday?
By spatel | November 30, 2009
By Ramon P. Llamas, MPH
Thanksgiving weekend is a time for family and friends and more often than not, a time we overindulge. A mini-vacation (I left for home last Tuesday night) to relax, eat and be merry. There were definitely huge amounts of time to relax, a ton of food to eat and moments of merriment to be had. In the back of my mind, though, I had work looming. I knew there was a tight deadline for a proposal due the Friday after Thanksgiving week and that lingered in my consciousness for the duration of last week. And as much as I wanted to relax, I couldn’t do so for extended periods of time. I found myself bored of relaxing after an hour or two. I felt like I had to do something and became anxious when I wasn’t. So I turned to food, shopping and my favorite social networking site. During the hours after I became bored of relaxing, I either stuffed my face, went to the mall or outlet shopping with family or actively searched for people to chat with online.
Thoughtful reflection and assessment of the past five days leads me to conclude that some people always need some mental stimulation. It is possible to stress out over having nothing to do and relaxation is hard when there are unresolved issues on one’s mind. But I made it a priority and even forced myself to take a break this weekend. I made the mistake of bringing some work with me and as a result, I felt guilty for not making any progress on it. However, by taking that break, I feel as though I have avoided potential burn out. By forcing myself to take a break last week, now I feel recharged and I am confident that I will produce quality results with a deadline just days away.
One of our bloggers, Luke Manley, also discussed this in his blog a few months back. This is definitely an important topic in our society – the ability and discipline to maintain the work-life balance and the ability to recognize when we each need to take a step back from all the stress and fully let go, albeit briefly. The Mayo Clinic, a great resource for health topics, developed a practical article on the work-life balance, which you can access here.
Achieving balance is a dynamic process. If you have any tips, suggestions or any questions on managing the stresses of work and life, please feel free to email me at ramonl@menshealthnetwork.net and let’s help each other!
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HPV Not Your Problem? Think Of Yourself As A Disease Reservoir
By spatel | November 25, 2009
By Luke Manley
We, as a species, seem to spend a great deal of time blaming others for our problems and nowhere is this truer than when referring to health. Whether it is patients blaming doctors, doctors blaming government, government blaming insurance companies, the finger is always pointed at someone else. This is something that needs to change. Refreshingly, we’ve heard a lot from our current president about personal responsibility, especially regarding men taking responsibility for their families, children, and their health. Well in honor of President Obama and our new Era of Responsibility I have something that will help you to do all three at once.
There has been a lot in the news recently about the human papillomavirus or HPV. Maybe you’ve heard that it has no effect in men and that it’s only a disease that has consequences in women. The first problem with that line of thinking is that it’s just flat out wrong. HPV is currently one of the most widespread viral diseases, with research from the Guttmacher Institute estimating there are 5.5 million new cases per year, that the virus accounts for one-third of all new STD infections, and that almost 75% of people between the ages of 15 and 49 have contracted the disease at some point. According to the CDC, there are in fact over 40 strains of sexually transmissible HPV (more than 100 altogether), many of which can cause a number of serious health problems in men, including genital warts and penile and anal cancers. Those are frightening statistics. However, it is indeed true that existing research has shown that for the vast majority of men, infection with the HPV virus shows no signs or symptoms and will most likely carry no direct consequences. Genital warts are rare, with only 1% of American men infected and penile and anal cancers only affecting 1 in every 100,000 men. So that is good news, right? Nothing to worry about? Wrong.
The second issue with the not-my-problem approach to HPV is of course that as any man who has ever been in a serious relationship knows, regardless of what your woman’s crisis is, it ultimately becomes your problem as well. Remember, as 21st Century men we are more knowledgeable, concerned, worldly, and with a greater emotional range than our fathers and grandfathers. This is important because while it might be of little personal consequence, HPV has tremendous effects on the health and well-being of our wives, mothers, girlfriends, sisters, and daughters. Left untreated, chronic HPV infection has shown to have an indisputable link to the development of cervical cancer in women. Just in the United States alone, the American Cancer Society estimates that each year over 12,000 cases will be reported and more than 4,000 women will die due to cervical cancer. As the U.S. is a diverse nation and to avoid ethnocentrism it is equally as important to note that the number skyrockets when you look outside the U.S. Globally, cervical is the 3rd most common cancer and will strike nearly half a million women and kill almost a quarter of a million. The Guttmacher Institute found that 80-85% of these deaths occur in developing nations and most often in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.
So this is the point where you may be a little confused. There is no test for you to determine whether or not you have HPV and even if you knew your infection status, the vaccine is not approved for your use. Additionally, the only surefire way to avoid spreading the virus is to not have sex, so how can you help? Given the rates of infection mentioned previously, the best step you can take is to simply take responsibility for the fact that you most likely are infected (and if you’ve ever had a cold-sore you definitely are). Encourage the women in your life to get routine Pap screenings if she is under 30 years old and the HPV test also if she is 30 or older. The worst crime is that, for women, detection of HPV infection is reliable, cheap, simple, and effective (90%) in identifying warning signs of early-stage cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia (precancerous cervical cells). These screenings, known as Pap tests have been responsible for a 74% reduction in cervical cancer deaths. Beyond that it should be obvious for enlightened Era-of-Responsibility-Man; limit your sexual partners and choose those who do so as well, avoid sexual contact if you do have visible warts, and for goodness sakes wear a condom. While it is not as effective against HPV as it is against other STDs, it still works and honestly if you’re still not using a condom, there’s little hope for your joining those of us in the 21st Century. Feel free to ward off HPV through grunting, pounding your chest, and throwing your excrement. Let us know how it works.
“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world…”
- President Barack Obama
The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy
August 2003, Volume 6, Number 3. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/06/3/gr060304.html
HPV and Men: CDC Fact Sheet. 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/HPV&Men-Fact-Sheet.pdf
The digene HPV test: FAQs for Men. 2009. http://www.thehpvtest.com/About-HPV/FAQs-for-Men.html
Topics: Medical Issues, Public Policy | 3 Comments »
The House Bill in a Nutshell
By spatel | November 16, 2009
By Adam Dougherty, MPH
We’ve had a few requests here at TAMH to give a brief overview of the recently passed House health reform bill, and I thought that the APHA Conference would be a good backdrop to also talk about some of the public health provisions in the language. From insurance coverage to market innovation and chronic disease management to health education, the Affordable Health Care for America Act attempts to address some of the most fundamental shortcomings of our health care system.
Health insurance coverage expansion is a central focus of the bill, and is particularly important to men who have much higher rates of being uninsured compared to women. Adequate insurance coverage is inherently linked to health care access and overall health, especially for men who don’t make use of preventive services and proper chronic disease management. The bill contains requirements for individuals to obtain and large businesses to offer health insurance coverage, while providing tax credits for low-income individuals and small businesses to help make it affordable. New regulations will prohibit insurance companies from denying or rescinding coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and the bill creates a national Health Insurance Exchange where individuals and businesses can compare and purchase insurance policies that fit their needs. Medicaid will also be extended to all individuals up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is of great benefit to low-income, single men who were previously ineligible. Medicare reform will also eliminate the prescription drug coverage “donut hole,” which currently prevents many men from obtaining and adhering to necessary medications.
Numerous provisions attempt to improve the health of men and their families through lifestyle initiatives. A Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund provides $34 billion over 10 years for community-based programs, employer wellness programs, and child obesity programs. These would be particularly effective for men, as increased understanding of personal wellbeing is paramount for men to take greater control of their health. Increased funding for community health centers and the establishment of school-based health centers will also allow men to more easily access needed services, and can instill a sense of responsibility at an early age. The bill will also require chain restaurants and vending machines to display calorie counts and nutrition information on menus and displays, in hopes to make individuals more aware of the how they balance their diet.
These are just a few of the major provisions affecting men, and though the bill isn’t perfect it sets an important precedent. By making health a priority on the federal level, we can use the newfound national momentum and capacity to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of all Americans.
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APHA LIVE UPDATE BLOG
By spatel | November 9, 2009
12:33 pm – Monday, November 9, 2009
This is an exciting time for men’s health! At this point, day two of the APHA conference, we have met a handful of new researchers in the field of men’s health. Innovative community-based interventions are being developed with the potential to reach an extremely underserved subgroup of the population. For example, there is growing attention on transportation workers and health implications of their prolonged travel schedule. As a result, health education and awareness programs specifically tailored to this population will provide opportunities to improve health outcomes. Additionally, new men’s health programs are being offered at various colleges and universities throughout the nation.
MHN is extremely excited to see the growing interest in men’s health among public health professionals who have stopped by our booth in the past few days!
-Ramon
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Saturday, November 7, 2009 – Health IT and History of Health Reform
3:42 pm
Just finished attending the packed Student Assembly meeting where the topics discussed were Health IT and History of Health Reform. Kesa Bond, MHA, RHIA, PMP, did a great job on explaining what the future for America holds in using the electronic health records (EHR).
There are two main benefits of using the electronic health charts: 1) it improves patient care and 2) it improves quality of health care. Electronic health records (EHR) allows health professionals to access up to date information and helps with ensuring accuracy in data presented when you see the doctors. With EHR, you don’t have to be asked the same typical questions such as are you allergenic to anything. EHR also allows professionals to have access to information being caputred such as lab results, and it enables communities to have query, which clusters data received in similar areas to see if there’s common symptoms and/or common diagnoses. This will bring a better surveillance program that will help prevent disease outbreaks within communities.
President Obama agrees that EHR is the future for America and made a promise similar to President Bush by declaring America to have EHR in 10 years. However, President Obama took it a step further by allocating money behind his promise. He has allocated 10 billion dollars each year over 5 years into EHR. By 2014, America will have EHR and there will financial incentives to help the transition to EHR. For example, if you move to EHR by 2011 then you will be able to have enable to get 100% of incentives. This is the prize of being an early adopter. There will be pentalies if you do not reached EHR by the 2014 target date. Every year after 2014, you will lose additional 1% of your money.
What do you think of EHR and are you using it? I know my doctor uses it and he says it helps him to explain things easier and with diagrams.
-Sonny
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11:35 pm – Friday, November 6, 2009 – Welcome to Philly!
After a long plane ride and a 2 hour shuttle, I am finally here in the city of brotherly love. I hope this city holds true to it’s nickname as I looking forward to Men’s Health getting a lot of love during this conference.
-Sonny
Welcome to Philly
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