Tag: physician

Choosing a Good Lasik Surgeon

Improving your vision with a Lasik procedure could be one of the greatest gifts you could get for yourself. However, as my mother used to say, “Your eyes are precious.” It is important to entrust the Lasik operation to a doctor that you trust and have confidence in.

Let’s begin with three factors that should NOT be the sole reason you select a doctor for the Lasik procedure. The location of the office is not particularly important, and a number of people travel long distances to have the Lasik procedure done, for a truly professional doctor will only need to be visited two or three times. Also, cost or the type of Lasik technology used should not be the sole factor. The range in surgical skill for a Lasik operation does vary, and there is the old saying “you get what you pay for.” Further, though the newer types of Lasik procedures do have their benefits; many eye doctors in a large metropolitan area often offer two or three Lasik variants.

There are several ways to determine which is the best doctor for you in your area. One of the qualities to look for in a good Lasik physician is someone who can accurately assess your situation, and advise you if Lasik is even a good choice for you and your lifestyle. A physician that takes the time to discuss your own physical condition and situation with you is a good indicator that this is a Lasik physician that you can rely on.

Look for a Lasik doctor which has a solid reputation in the area, and has a good track record. A physician that advertises in a magazine is not a sufficient recommendation to put your trust in that doctor, and needs more investigation before agreeing to have him do your Lasik procedure. Sometimes a Lasik center with a large advertising campaign and discounted prices may be indicating that the quality of the surgery is not excellent, and this could be a red flag to avoid that center.

A good Lasik doctor should be involved in the entire Lasik process. As mentioned above, he should take time to assess your particular case and discuss it with you. Not only should he do the exam, but he should also perform most or all of the preoperative exam, and also should meet with you personally to monitor the success of the procedure at the dates for checkup. There are stories from some Lasik centers of the patients never seeing the physician again after the operation until they complained strenuously of some particular problem.

Make sure the physician is honest in their assessment of the general Lasik procedure, and his track record in particular. Ask for individual examples of patients that the physician dissuaded from having the Lasik operation, and why. Ask how many Lasik procedures the doctor has done in total, and how many in the last two years. An experienced surgeon should have performed in the neighborhood of 1000 Lasik procedures, with at least 500 of those in the last two years.

Use these questions as a starting point to investigate the Lasik centers in your area, and even the highly recommended ones in nearby major metropolitan areas. It will be time well invested, and the first step to a clearer future.

Scoliosis in Adolescents

Normally, a spine when viewed from rear should appear straight but if the spine is lateral or curved or sideways or rotated then it is affected by scoliosis. It gives an appearance as if the person has leaned to a side. According to Scoliosis Research Society the definition of scoliosis is the curving of the spine at an angle greater than 10 degrees on an x-ray. Scoliosis is a kind of spinal deformity and shouldnt be confused to poor posture. Usually there are 4 common kinds of patterns of curves experienced in Scoliosis which are: Thoracic wherein the right side has ninety percent curves, lumbar wherein left side has seventy percent curves, thoracolumbar wherein right side has eighty percent curves and double major where both right and left sides have curves.

In majority of the cases, as high as eight to eighty five percent, the cause of the deformity is unknown, this is also known as idiopathic scoliosis. It is observed that females have scoliosis more commonly than males. According to some established facts 3 to 5 children per 1000 has chances of developing spinal curves which is a number big enough requiring medical treatment. There are three types of scoliosis that can develop in children namely congenital, neuromuscular and idiopathic. Congenital scoliosis is seen in 1 out every 1,000 births which is caused due to vertebraes failure in normal formation, vertebrae is absent, vertebrae is formed partially and vertebrae is not separated. Neuromuscular scoliosis is linked with various neurological conditions and particularly in children who dont walk like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, tumors in spinal cord, paralytic conditions and neurofibromatosis. The cause of third type of scoliosis called Idiopathic scoliosis is still unknown. It is further divided into infantile, juvenile and adolescent scoliosis. Infantile scoliosis occurs up to the age of 3 years from birth wherein the vertebrae curve is towards left and is more frequently observed in boys. The curve takes normal shape with the growth of child. Juvenile scoliosis is common in children of age three to nine. Adolescent scoliosis is common in kids of age ten to eighteen and this is also the most common form of scoliosis occurring more in girls than boys.

The other possible causes of the deformity include hereditary reasons, different lengths of legs, injuries, infections and tumors. There are numerous symptoms attributed to scoliosis which can vary from individual to individual. The symptoms are: Difference in heights of the shoulders, off-centered head, difference in the height or position of the hip, difference in the position or height of shoulder blade, different arm lengths in straight standing position and lastly different height back sides when the body is bent forward. Other symptoms include leg pain, back pain and change in bladder and bowel habits do not belong to the symptoms of idiopathic scoliosis and require medical checkup by a doctor. The symptoms may be similar to other problems related to spinal cord or other deformities or could result from an infection or injury and consulting a doctor is the best bet in this situation who may conduct diagnosis to know what exactly it is.

The diagnosis of scoliosis requires thorough medical history of the teenager, diagnostic tests and also physical examination. The doctor asks for entire prenatal history, birth history and also would want to know if anyone in the family has scoliosis. The doctor may also ask for the milestones related with the development of the teenager since some kinds of scoliosis are known to be related to neuromuscular disorders. The delay in development may need additional medical evaluation. Doctor may also prescribe x-ray, CT scan and MRI scan of the back to measure the degree of curvature in the spinal. There are various treatments available for scoliosis which is decided by the physician depending on teenagers age, medical history and health in general. The method of treatment also depends on the extent to which disease has reached. The tolerance of the teenager to certain medicines, therapies and procedures are also taken into consideration. Expectations and opinion of the parents or teenager is also the criteria in deciding the type of treatment. The main aim of the treatment is stop the curve from progressing and avert deformity. The treatments include observation and repetitive examinations, bracing and surgery to correct the defect.

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Preventing Medical Errors

With the increasing complexities of the health systems today it may be easier for some medical errors to occur. This may worry some people and rightly so. Unexpected and unwanted results may happen and may be caused by a medical or computer error. Planned medical care procedures may not go exactly as planned. Errors can and will occur anywhere in the health care system and can do with medication, treatments, identity, or as simple as being given the wrong meal. One of the leading causes of death and injury is medical errors with at least as many as 50,000 people dying in American hospitals each year. With more people dying from medical error than car crashes or AIDS; this is a problem that deserves everyones attention.

Medical error refers to overwrought doctors or nurses who accidentally do something lethal when dealing with a patient. This could be an excessive dosage of drugs, or accidentally snipping a blood vessel required to live. Believe it or not, there have been many cases of patients having the wrong leg or arm operated on, which has led to the practice of writing NOT THIS LEG or NOT THIS ARM on the limb that does not need an operation.

Of course while doctors and government agencies work towards a safer and more effective healthcare system there are things that you can do to help. Form a partnership with your healthcare providers. Get to know them and let them get to know you. Become as involved with your own healthcare as you expect the physician handling your case to be. Take part in all decisions relating to your health care. Better results are achieved when you can communicate openly with your doctor to clear up misunderstandings and relay your wishes. Making sure that you receive the proper care is also your responsibility, so dont let a little embarrassment get in the way of good accurate medical care. A little embarrassment is worth it when it comes to you or your loved ones health and the care that you receive. This kind of good communication can save your life.

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommend that if you are a patient in a hospital you should speak up for yourself if you notice something that you dont understand. Know your medications, what they are for, when to take them, and how to take them and bring a list of them with you to the visit. Understand what is expected to occur, how, where, and when. Making sure someone knows what your name is and repeat information to all that you feel needs to know about your visit. Dont just assume that everyone involved in your care knows what is going on with you. Find out what your tests results are and dont assume that just because you dont hear anything that everything is ok. Dont get forgotten in the hospital. If you have a private physician then make sure that doctor is the one in charge of your care to reduce identity errors.

So if you need the services of a medical professional or are admitted to a hospital, or having to visit outpatient clinic, emergency rooms, please take the time to make it known that you mean business when it comes to your health. Make sure that you build a partnership with your medical professionals as they are the ones that will be caring for you in possibly your most vulnerable moments. Teamwork in this area is the key to reducing some of the medical errors that occur in hospitals today. That team includes you, your doctor, healthcare staff, nurses, and clerical worker. Just be patient with the crew as they are trying their best to keep you alive. While being patient, also be cautious. Eventually you will figure out the best combination so as to be the perfect patient.

The Cost of Laser Hair Removal

The cost of laser hair removal depends on several factors including the area to be treated, the amount of hair growth on the area, the number of treatments needed, the type of laser used, the individual physician or practitioner, and your geographic location. Laser hair removal can be quite expensive, but many people feel that the results are well worth the expense. This is because results of the treatment have a long-lasting effect. It also produces a reduced hair growth.

Because every individual is different and is going to require laser hair removal treatments specifically geared to their unique hair patterns, the price ranges included in this article are average costs. If you are considering laser hair removal, it is important to set up an appointment with your physician to discuss all of the aspects of the procedure, including the costs.

Because laser hair removal is usually considered a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by insurance. Each laser treatment is separate and usually incurs a separate charge, unless a specified treatment package has been purchased.

Generally the most expensive areas to treat with laser hair removal is the complete face and neck, back, and legs. The average cost of one treatment for complete face and neck or back hair removal ranges from $600 and $900. Laser hair removal for upper and lower legs each cost from $600 to $850 for each treatment.

Laser hair removal for chest hair costs between $350 and $600 per treatment. This is also the approximate price range for each treatment of the arms. Treatments for the bikini area can range from $350 to $550. The cost of underarm hair removal generally is between $250 and $350 per treatment. Treatments for smaller areas, such as the chin or upper lip, cost between $100 and $175 per treatment.

The national average for the cost of a laser hair removal treatment is $429. Each region of the country has a different average cost per treatment. In the Eastern part of the United States, the cost per session is $425, compared to the Midwest, where it is $450. In the Western region of the country, the average cost per treatment is $420, slightly above that of the South, which is $400.

Fees vary even within each individual region. One of the factors that causes this to occur is the location of the physician’s, or practitioner’s office. The fees that are charged for an office in an urban area are going to be different from those charged for offices located in rural or suburban areas. Another determining factor for the variance in fees within the same region is whether or not the doctor owns or rents the laser equipment.

Another determining factor is the choice of place to have the laser hair removal treatments. A luxury spa will obviously charge a higher fee then a clinic. A doctor who does the procedure himself may charge more then a laser practitioner, or a physician that oversees the laser hair removal treatments provided by a qualified technician.