As most of you know, I'm somewhat of a computer nerd.  Since the earliest days of the Internet, I have been intrigued by the vast information available via "The Web" and the ease of communication it offers.  Like Al Gore, I was practically the inventor of the Internet (I'm kidding),.  I certainly was among the first to start using e-mail for patient communications, and all my medical buddies want www.DoctorYourNameHere.com, like I have....but if you missed the boat, you can't get your name in 'Dot-Com' lights.
 
Now, computerized information is about to become ubiquitous in our medical practice, as e-prescribing, and PHR (Personal Health Records) become a standard of care.  No doubt, the government's "Stimulus Package" will encourage this transition, as it is thought that CMR (Computerized Medical Records) hold the potential to provide a 10% or greater cost saving in the delivery of health care.
 
The transition is just beginning.  I am certain it will be completed over the coming few years, but for now, only invest time in your PHR if you have an interest in being on the cutting edge of technology.  There are still a lot of kinks to work out of the system.  I have not reviewed all of the PHR's available, but I have looked through Google's offering.  It is very complete, but it is not just serving the patient, it is also serving the interest of Google Inc, as it not only involves software to maintain medical records, but also a vast array of services and information that relate to advertisers and supporters of Google Inc.
 
This is an exciting change, and I encourage you to take part in it if you wish.  Those who don't have a lot of extra time to devote to the PHR as a hobby, should wait until the system is better suited for practical use.

 

Yours in good health,

 

Dr. Lakin
 

 

Back to Top 

Join our patient raffle to win a lunch with Dr. Lakin.

 

Have an uninterrupted hour lunch with Dr. Lakin to talk  about anything you wish; medical questions, sports, share jokes, talk about the weather, or even watch youtube together! 

 

To enter, drop your name in our raffle bowl at the front desk at your next appointment.

 

 

Don't miss this special opportunity to eat with the Doc!

 

Come in and join our raffle today!

 

Back to Top 

Question?

 

If water freezes at 32 degrees, how does frost form when the temperature is 36 degrees? 

 

Your thermometer is probably 4 or 5 feet above the ground and tells you what the temperature is at that height, for example 36.

 

But on cool, calm nights, cold air, being denser than warm air, settles on the ground or in low places or perhaps on your roof, where warmer air has been easily radiated overnight.  These are the places that the temperature is cold enough to allow frost to form, no matter what your thermometer tells you is going on just a few feet higher.

 

Very Interesting..........

**Join Dr. Lakin's New Diabetic Support Group 

 

 

 

The American Diabetes Association estimates that more than 23 million Americans suffer from Diabetes, and 57 million more are at risk of developing the disease.

 

In the four major types of Diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or no longer uses it efficiently, and treatment of each type may vary: 

 

Type 1 Diabetes ( formerly juvenile-onset Diabetes)

The pancreas produces too little insulin to enable cells to absorb blood sugar: only 5% to 10% of diabetics fall into this category.

 

Type 2 diabetes (formerly adult-onset Diabetes)

In this most common form of the illness, the insulin "key" in cells quits working well, making absorption of sugar into the cells more difficult.

 

Gestational Diabetes:

About 4% of women develop elevated blood sugar during and just after pregnancy.  It may subside, but it leaves them at higher than average risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes.

 

Pre-Diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance:

Although not technically diabetes, abnormally high and rising blood sugar levels occur in as many as 57 million Americans.

 

Lifestyle changes are key for all Diabetics.  But for the last three groups, blood sugar levels can be stabilized by improving diet, adding exercise and achieving a healthy weight.

 

 

 

Interested in more information?

 

Join our new Diabetic Support Group at our office, Thursday, March 5th, 1pm - 2pm.  Sign up at our front desk or contact either Elena or Nan .  

License-plate frames that obscure the word "Arizona" are subject to $135 fine.......

 "Not Legal"                                                              "Not Legal"
                               

 

The State Legislature approved a law in 2006 authorizing the sale of speciality license plates, such as those to support the Diamonbacks.  Tucked into the bill was a largely unnoticed provision requiring motorists to remove anything, especially license-plate frames, that might obscure the "Arizona" on the plate.

 

Of particular concern is the fine, $135 plus court fees, depending on the city where the violation is discovered, which is more than five times the penalty for refusing to wear a seat belt.

 

The law was put into place mainly to help law officers more readily identify a vehicle as in an Amber Alert or a dangerous person broadcast. 

 

As word of the new law spread, the DPS noted that some misinformation started to circulate among Arizona drivers. 

 

"Why can't they just change the plate to make Arizona more visible?"

 There are millions of cars on the road, and that would be the responsibility of the Motor Vehicle Division, not the DPS.

 

"If I get a photo-enforcement ticket, do they hit me for the plate frame as well?"

No, per the DPS.  They are not in that business.

 

"Is there any additional grace period?"

There is no mandatory grace period, that's why it was proposed back in 2006 to allow people to make those changes.

 

As a primary violation, the DPS can stop any motorists violating the new law.  Many auto dealers and manufacturers of the plate frames have made changes to their designs.

 

So, the bottom line is: let them see your "ARIZONA"!

 

 "Legal"

                                                        -JJ Hensley, The AZ Republic

 

Back to Top 

If you're looking for a low-calorie, fat-free treat this Valentine's Day, then try these light meringue cookies.

 

For best results, separate the eggs while cold, make sure not a speck of yolk contaminates them, and leave the whites for 20 minutes or so before beating them. Make sure the whisks and bowl are entirely clean and free from grease before use.
Ingredients:

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper.
Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until foamy.
Add cream of tartar and continue beating egg whites until the soft peak stage.
Gradually add sugar, a tablespoon or two at a time, beating well after each addition.
Mix until all the sugar has been added and the egg whites are stiff and glossy.
Add a few drops of red food coloring and stir to make the egg whites pink.
Drop by the tablespoon onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, or, with the help of a small heart-shaped cookie cutter, make heart shape meringues -- spoon the meringue inside the cookie cutter, and push down with the spoon as you lift the cookie cutter, then repeat for each cookie.

 
Bake for 1 hour. Switch off oven, and leave in the oven for 2-3 hours
Makes about 24-30 cookies

 
Per cookie: Calories 26, Calories from Fat 0, Total Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 8mg, Carbohydrate 6.2g, Fiber 0g, Protein 0.4g

 

The honeymoon doesn't have to be over just because you have been together for years, new research suggests.

 

Popular wisdom would have it that romance fades over time.  But new brain scans of people who say they are still in love after decades of marriage are similar to scans of those who have just fallen in love, leading researchers to conclude that long-term relationships can be just as passionate and romantic as new love!

 

Scientists used functional MRI to scan the brains of 10 women and seven men who said they were still intensely in love after an average of 21 years of marriage.  When they viewed photos of their partners, their brain's reacted.

                                                   

                                                                          - USA Today

 

Back to Top 

 

 

Wash your hands, folks, especially women!

 

A new study found that women have a greater variety of bacteria on their hands than men do.

Researchers aren't sure why women harbored more, but it may have to do with acidity of the skin.  Men have more acidic skin than women.

 

Other possibilities are differences in sweat and oil gland production between men and women, the frequency of moisturizer or cosmetic applications, skin thickness or hormone production.

Women also may have more bacteria living under the surface of the skin where they are not accessible to washing.

 

Asked if guys should worry about holding hands with girls, the University of Colorado biochemistry Assistant Professor Rob Knight said, "I guess it depends on the girl!"

 

                                          - Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press 

 

One of the most common  causes of blindness occurs when the pressure in the eye slowly rises, damaging one of its most sensitive structures, the optic nerve.  The disorders that cause this are grouped under the name glaucoma.

 

The eye produces fluid to keep the chamber pressurized.  In order to prevent the pressure from getting too high, the eye relies on "release valves" - one-way exits for excess fluid to escape to maintain a proper balance of pressure.  Glaucoma occurs when the pressure created by the fluid in the eye rises, exceeding the amount necessary for appropriate function.  Several different forms of glaucoma can cause this pressure imbalance to occur, but all create the same damage to the optic nerve if untreated.

 

Glaucoma generally doesn't cause symptoms until it's advanced.  By the time your vision starts to fail, extensive damage to the optic nerve has occurred.

 

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some groups are at higher risk: African-Americans over 30, anyone over 60 and anyone with a family history of glaucoma.

 

Glaucoma is an illness that silently steals one's vision.  Don't take your eyes for granted.  Make plans to get an eye exam to keep them healthy!

 

                                                     -Tedd Mitchell, MD, USA Weekend

 

Back to Top 

 Early indicators are that this year will be one of the most challenging in a generation.  Even more troubling, many events seem beyond our influence.

 

When you feel control over your life slipping, that's the time to focus on things you can influence.  The place to start: ourselves, particularly our health.

 

These 12 new developments will keep you feeling fit!

1. Eat right, breathe easy

2. Boost your fitness with food

3. For energy, move it: exercise!

4. Sweat it out: intensity of exercise

5. Ditch depression with Vitamin D

6. Get Soles: invest on customized in-soles

7. Go from good to grape: Grape Juice

8. Go soft on Sleep: water beds or body-conforming mattresses

9. Make like a fish and swim!

10.Network your way to happiness: be social

11.Pop pine bark: the antioxidant benefits of Pyenogenol

12.Look for the Salt: stay under 2,300mg daily or one teaspoon

 

Good luck on a happy, healthy new year!

 

                                                     - Stephen R. Covey, USA Weekend

 

Back to Top 

 

 

Meet Paul, our Sonora Quest phlebotomist in our office.  

 

Paul does an amazing job taking care of Dr. Lakin's labs.  Recently, for your convenience, we have opened the opportunity for you to come back to our office for lab work if your specialist requires additional lab work.

 

In order to make your wait as short as possible, Paul suggests you make sure these items are completed before hand:

 

Ask your specialist to write your labs on a Sonora Quest requisition, not a script. This way Paul will have all the necessary

information he needs to process the order.

 

Be sure to complete your portion: name, address, phone, etc., 

 

Bring your insurance card with you so Paul can make a copy

 

The best times to come in are: 7:30am - 11:30am & 1pm - 3pm, Tuesday - Thursday.

 

We hope this service is helpful for you.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nan. 

 

 

If you live in Arizona or Utah and have original Medicare, you can participate in a new program: Medicare PHR Choice.

 

In this program, you can sign up for a personal health record (PHR) and begin building a whole new way of managing your PHR automatically.  If you request it, Medicare can send up to two years of your past claims information directly to your PHR.  You can also add other health information yourself that you usually share with your doctors like allergies or family history.

 

The products offered by the companies participating in Medicare PHR Choice, let you access your health information anywhere and at anytime you have access to the Internet.  Each of these companies has privacy and security standards in place to help keep your information safe.  You can choose whether to share access to your PHR with your doctors, family, or other caregivers to help coordinate your health care.

 

Signing up is easy.  Just follow the steps below.

 

1. Visit www.medicare.gov/phr. Here you will find information and links to the companies offering PHRs in this program.

 

2. Use the links on the web site to learn more about each of the participating PHR companies.

 

3. Choose the PHR that fits your needs.  Each company may offer different features.

 

                - Dept. of Health & Human Services, Medicare & Medicaid Services 

 

Back to Top 

                                                             

       A MUST SEE          * * * * *

       GREAT                   * * * *

       ENTERTAINING       * * *

       RENT THE VIDEO    * *

       FORGET IT!             *     

 

 

 

GRAN TORINO - * * *

Well, Clint did the best job I have seen him do in a while. When in high school, we all told him he would never make it. We were wrong. However his acting certainly improved over the years.
 
 
 
THE READER - * * * *

I really enjoyed this. Kate Winslet is outstanding, and you really believe them as people and not actors playing people. These are sad World War II happenings, but they did occur and should not be forgotten.
 
 
RESTORATION ROAD -  *

Don't even rent the DVD!  Who needs to watch these dysfunctional people for 2 hours? The only enjoyable actor in this one was the real estate agent's son who is on leave from the "funny farm"
 
 
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - * * * * *

This is the best I have seen in years. The actors, all unknown to me, are magnificent, and I found this to be a delightful, fanciful tale of a poor boy in India. Do see this one - maybe twice!!!!!
 
 
MARLEY AND ME - * * *

I KNEW WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT AND I PROMISED MYSELF I WOULD NOT CRY - BUT I  DID.

Very enjoyable.

 

 

DOUBT -  * * * * *

Well gang, this is a tie with SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. Absolutely mesmerized me. I couldn't imagine how they would end it. The ending was great. Has to be a best actress for Meryl Streep.
 

                    

                                                                                - Barb A. 

 

Back to Top
 . 
 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Top