Signs of a Good Medical Office

What to look for when finding a new dentist

How do you know when you’ve found a good medical professional? There are a lot of factors to consider. For most people, the biggest considerations are cost and health insurance. If you find a great doctor who won’t take your health insurance, that’s probably not going to work, especially with the high cost of out-of-network fees in the United States. Cost is another factor. There are great doctors who only charge a few bucks, and there are terrible doctors who charge outrageous fees, so cost isn’t necessarily going to be a sign of quality. You have to find a price point that works from you, then go from there. Looking-For-a-Dentist-Heres-What-To-Look-For

How organized are they?

When you call and schedule an appointment, are they able to pull up a list of possible dates and times right away, or do they have to scramble to find the appointment book? When they say, “We’ll bill you,” does the bill arrive in a week or two, or do you not receive anything except a late bill notice three months later? An office that can’t stay organized is likely to have issues in other places as well. They should be on top of things like billing insurance properly as well. This isn’t the 1950s; we’re living in an era where insurance management software and other tools are widely available for use. Office personnel shouldn’t have to work their way through large stacks of papers in search of your patient file; it should be something they can access with a few keyboard strokes.

Pay attention to how long they keep patients waiting, too. Sure, emergencies are unavoidable sometimes, but constantly waiting two hours past your appointment time is a sign that something has gone wrong on their end. Functional medical offices don’t regularly keep their patients waiting for that long. If there is an emergency, someone should be able to come out and tell you what’s going on and how much longer it will be. Good communication is key when things don’t go as planned.

How established are they?

There are a few categories of business where we appreciate something new and shiny. Hotels and restaurants are good examples of the “newer is better” phenomena. However, when you’re going to see a medical professional, you want to make sure that he or she has been in business for a while and have established a decent reputation in the community.

If your dentist recommends you visit a specific periodontist, it’s not a bad idea to go home and perform some basic research on the name your dentist gave you. Google the person and see what comes up. One of the first results should be some sort of web page, even if it’s just something on Facebook. In this day and age, any company with sense has some sort of web presence. A solid, informative website is one sign that the place you’ll be visiting cares about transparency, and that’s never a bad sign, even if it’s only piece of the puzzle. Look for reviews if you can find them, but don’t get too upset if there’s one or two one-star reviews. If the overall trendline is good, then the people who wrote the bad reviews are probably leaving something out.

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What Does (and Doesn’t) Determine Cancer Outcomes 

The out come of cancer survival for most people is the cost

Never believe people who tell you they have a magical cure for cancer. They’re trying to sell you something, and considering how scary and dangerous hearing the word “cancer” is for most people, the price is probably going to be pretty steep. There’s no tea that’s going to magically shrink a tumor, and there’s no ointment that’s going to make getting chemotherapy unnecessary. If there were a cure for cancer by now, then way more people would know about it then your Great Aunt Shirley’s best friend Carol. So what does work against cancer? That depends on a lot of different things.Fighting-cancer-sometimes-is-the-cost-now-there-the-Right-To-Try-drugs-for-treatment

Acting quickly matters

Cancer generally comes in four stages. Stage I is a much better diagnosis than Stage 4. Typically, the odds of survival get worse with each stage. According to the American Cancer Society, someone with Stage I breast cancer has an expected five-year survival rate of almost 100 percent. For Stage IV, though, the five-year survival rate is 22 percent. However, it’s also important to remember that some cancers are harder to fight than others. While breast cancer survival rates have improved quite a bit in the last few decades, the same can’t be said of brain cancers like glioblastoma, which received a lot of attention in summer of 2017 after Senator John McCain announced he had been diagnosed with it. The most common type of glioblastoma offers a median survival rate of slightly less than 15 months, according to the American Brain Cancer Society.

While it’s easy to recite numbers and statistics, every case is different. Two people with the same stage cancer can have different outlooks based on factors like age and overall health. The best thing a cancer patient can do for him or herself is to find an incredibly trustworthy medical team. If you see a cancer specialist who recommends starting chemotherapy and radiation within a couple of weeks, that’s because he or she doesn’t want to give the cancer the chance to spread any further before the team starts fighting it. It’s easy to feel like things start happening very quickly once a patient receives a diagnosis of cancer. That’s because things probably are happening very quickly. Time is of the essence. That being said, patients should still be able to ask questions about their treatment. This is a big deal, so they should be able to ask a lot of questions and get honest answers, even if the honest answer is, “We don’t know yet.”

The mental aspect

Some patients feel like they should “stay positive” to give themselves a better chance of beating cancer. Other patients will cope by making a lot of very morbid jokes. Neither approach is wrong, and neither approach offers a better chance of survival. The American Cancer Society says there’s no hard evidence that having a certain personality type makes you more or less likely to survive cancer.

Some patients will be able to take a few weeks off work to focus solely on the first round of cancer treatments, but many people won’t have that luxury. There may be other options, though. That’s also true of students taking college classes. Most professors are going to be sympathetic to people with health emergencies, and something like cancer definitely qualifies. Going to work or school even part-time can also provide a welcome distraction from constantly hearing about and thinking about cancer. It’s a way to feel a little bit normal in a very abnormal situation.

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Spoil Her Rotten In Unexpected Ways

The thought of having to search through the shops in quest of that perfect gift for her is enough to leave many of us breaking out in a cold sweat, but it doesn’t have to be that way. A word of caution though, don’t get complacent with thinking that ‘it’s the thought that counts’ will be enough to cut the gift-giving mustard either; for a great present that she’s going to love you have to put in some time and thought to your purchase! Spoil-Her-Rotten-In-Unexpected-Ways

Before we continue any further to our original gift suggestions, we’ve got a couple of tips for you to help you buy the right thing. First one is don’t leave it to the last minute to get a gift – set up reminders on your phone to start shopping for gifts prior to the actual date. Next, make life easy for yourself by shopping online; there is a lot more choice and it is much more convenient than rushing to the shops after work! Lastly, think outside the box and get her something completely original – this is where we can step in to help.

The thrilling adventure

If you’re in the habit of getting her gifts that are always a bit on the tame side (hello bunches of supermarket flowers), then it is time to get her something that is actually going to take her breath away. A once in a lifetime experience is an undeniably fabulous and unforgettable gift.

We’re talking about things like having her launch herself out of a plane as she goes on her maiden skydiving expedition. Or what about giving her an incredible rush as she dangles at the end of a bungee-jump rope? From piloting lessons to zooming around a track in a race car, these are exciting experiences that she’ll certainly never forget. 

Other once in a lifetime experiences that we think will make a wonderful gift for her whilst being ever so slightly tamer, include a dreamy hot air balloon ride, a helicopter tour or a trip on a canal barge. She’s going to love the experience and the memories it will make.

Get up and go

If she loves her weekly zumba or yoga class, and is always heading to the gym or sports training, then an active gift that lets her try something new is going to put a great big smile on her face. Let her enjoy a course of introductory kick-boxing lessons on you for example – you never know, you might have just found her new favorite hobby! From dancing lessons to rock climbing, to things like aqua-zumba, if she’s the active type you’ll easily be able to find something to suit.

Paying for this PT course from discovery learning, is not only a generous gift to give but it is also very practical, if they are planning in joining a gym anyway.

On the other hand, perhaps she’s always talking about how she’d like to get more active. If so, consider the gift of a voucher offering her free access to a local gym, or a session with her own personal trainer? She’s sure to appreciate the fact that you’ve got her something that she’s been talking about and will help kick start her goals.

Release the creativity 

Perhaps she’s more of an artsy, creative type, in which case you can easily tap into this with your choice of gift. Just like with the more active kind of gift, have a look out for deals on local arts and crafts classes that you know she’d love to try out. We’re thinking pottery, crochet, calligraphy (this is one of the hottest art trends right now if Instagram is anything to go by!), still life drawing, sewing, acting and more. Maybe she’s mentioned something she’d like to try out or have a think about what would really play to her strengths and get her a taster session of something that she’d love doing.

A feast fit for a queen

To be honest, most of us love a bit of luxury wining and dining, so why not indulge her with a decadent meal at a restaurant you know she loves. A 2 or 3-course meal accompanied by aperitifs and her favorite wine is sure to go down an absolute treat.

If you know that her schedule makes whisking her away for a slap-up meal kind of tricky, then bring the feast to her with a luxury hamper filled with all kinds of delicious goodies. From cheese to posh condiments and more, she’s going to love such a tasty surprise. Or why not indulge her with a decadent meal at a restaurant you know she loves and a luxury limo ride.

Did someone say culture?

Maybe she’s more the type that loves to spend her free time strolling around art galleries and exhibitions, in which case a more cultural type of gift is going to be a hit. We love the idea of gifting a bus or boat tour of a city or getting her tickets to a huge exhibition that you know she’s interested in.

Alternatively, if her idea of culture is more like cocktails followed by a play or a show, then treat her to tickets for a gift that she’s going to fall in love with – and she’ll be able to make those all in important lasting memories too.

Spoiling her rotten is so simple – all you have to do is have a think about her likes and tastes and you’re sure to be able to choose an original gift that she’s going to love. For even more ideas that cover everything from the classic to the outstanding original, we suggest you check out these gifts for her at Groupon. With quick to navigate sub-sections such as budget and categories like experiences, even if you’ve left it to the last minute you’ll still be able to hit on a winning gift that is going to wow her.

So, get clicking and get shopping now for a gift that she’s bound to adore.

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The Right Respite

The Right Respite

Ideally, we should spend one-third of the day working, one-third resting or engaging in other activities, and one-third sleeping–but how many of us are actually that balanced? Every now and again, it’s important to recharge and take a bit of a respite. Sometimes, it can even be imperative for our health. Let’s take a look at a few ways we can make sure we get the space for rejuvenation that we need. 

Taking-Time-For-a-Break-a-RespiteImage: 20Twenty.com

Self-care

Self-care is essential, both in small doses and large. When we are in our best shape, both mentally and physically, we can do our best work and do a better job taking care of others.

There are plenty of ways to sneak self-care in every day. One important self-care step is sleep. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends making enough time to sleep, but sleep is often the first thing to go when we get stressed. If you can, make time to get enough sleep each night. You should also protect your mental wellbeing. Daily activities such as meditation (or prayer), volunteering, and reading meaningful works will help give your heart and soul a sense of peace and perspective–a trust in the larger scheme of things. You might keep a journal of positive thoughts or a list of self-affirmations that you read every day to promote self-respect and a positive outlook on life. Journaling or meditation can take as little as five to ten minutes a day, but they create big effects.

Sometimes, self-care needs to upgrade to a vacation or getaway. Studies show that taking time off actually improves productivity, so don’t be afraid to use those vacation days. You might do something as simple as a staycation in which you book a room at a local luxury hotel, or you might rent out a resort house and get out of town. Allow yourself to be pampered and focus on things other than the stressors of your daily life. You might also take a weekend at a fun casino you don’t even have to gamble! Plenty of casinos offer lodging, restaurants, and live entertainment, making them an all-in-one venue for a short stay. While some people prefer relaxing vacations, others may need to have a bit of an adventure. Why not take a trip to a new city, or go hiking or camping for a few days? A little activity and a change of scenery may be exactly what you need to reinvigorate yourself. 

Serious care

Sometimes we need respite and recovery on a literally life-or-death level. Be on the lookout for signs that you or a loved one may need professional looking-after. If you or someone in your family has recently undergone serious surgery, it may be worth spending time at a nursing and rehabilitation center. These facilities help transition people in recovery back into everyday life, so that they don’t get a shock when they go back to their daily routines. These services also emphasize the importance of caregiver respite, and they frequently offer short-term care so that the caregiver can have a few days off. If a loved one needs to go into hospice care, choose a facility that will ensure that his or her last days are the ultimate respite, with pain and symptom management, comfortable facilities, and a welcome space for family and friends to gather.

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