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NAHAC
National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants
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Second Annual Conference
Washington, DC
November 2010
The second annual conference will be held
Nov. 4-6, 2010 Washington, DC at the
Hotel Palomar | |
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| Volume 1 Issue 1 | July 2010 |
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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Welcome to the first issue of "Navigator News," a monthly newsletter brought to you by Patient Navigator LLC. Our mission is to bring health care and life care together through advocacy, education and a patient-centered approach to solving problems and overcoming obstacles in the healthcare system.
Each month we will offer articles to help you become your own best advocate and give you new perspectives on the healthcare system.
Sincerely,
Elisabeth Schuler Russell
Founder and President
Patient Navigator, LLC
Guiding your journey through illness .... |
| Cancer Diagnosis - 10 Things You Need to Know |
A cancer diagnosis thrusts patients and their families into an unfamiliar world of doctors, tests and treatment options. They must simultaneously find information, make decisions under pressure, seek the best medical care, cope with family changes, and deal with insurance, financial, employment, caregiver or school issues.
Here are my 10 suggestions as you or a loved one begin to navigate your cancer journey...
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| Health Care Reform - The "Safeway" Provision | Most of us by now have heard about the key insurance reforms of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." Unfortunately, what got lost in the lengthy and vociferous health care reform debate was much mention of some worthy Prevention and Wellness initiatives, such as making grants available for small employers who establish wellness programs, and allowing employers to offer premium discounts or other monetary incentives to employees who participate in wellness programs or meet certain health-related standards.
Since almost half of health care spending is used to treat just 5 percent of the population, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, it makes perfect sense to pay people to stay healthy by encouraging positive lifestyle changes and behaviors. The Safeway supermarket chain piloted this model and it is showing excellent results through cost savings and healthier employees.
Learn more about Safeway's innovative approach by listening to this National Public Radio report. For a good summary of the health reform law, check out this brief prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation. |
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Caregiver Role Gets New Focus and Respect | |
 The American College of Physicians last year released ethical guidelines addressing patient, physician, and caregiver relationships. The medical community is increasingly respecting the role of caregivers and offering guidance on how to develop that relationship.
The guidelines aim to focus on a family-centered approach to treatment, thereby decreasing the caregivers' susceptibility to stress-related illness. One such recommendation states that physicians should be more accessible and allow for more effective communication not only with the patient but also with the caregivers.
These guidelines are important and groundbreaking because all too often caregivers' needs go unmet and their burdens unrecognized. According to the paper, family caregivers play a major role in maximizing the health and quality of life of more than 30 million individuals with acute and chronic illness.
Patients depend on family caregivers for assistance with daily activities, managing complex care, navigating the health care system, and communicating with health care professionals. Physical, emotional and financial stress may increase caregiver vulnerability to injury and illness. Geographically distant family caregivers and health professionals in the role of family caregivers may suffer additional burdens.
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