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It looks like Santa Claus has successfully passed his pre-flight inspection and is set for a safe take-off from the North Pole. It will be flight – North Pole Air # 122414.

According to Santa’s CFE (Chief Safety Elf) the list has been checked twice to see who was naughty or nice, cargo has been screened, his sleigh is loaded and his flight plan has been filed so he and his reindeer can set out to make their annual Christmas deliveries  tonight.

 

Many doctors will tell you when they talk to their patient about changing his or her life style, their response will be something like “Heart disease runs in my family so there is nothing I can do about it.”

Of course, family history is a factor but a recent study concluded that changing to a heart-healthy lifestyle can overcome what’s in your genes.

A recent study involved 20,771 men between ages 45 and 70. When the study began, none of the men had a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Over the 11-year period of the study 1,361 of the men suffered heart attacks. They were most likely to be those with poor diets, little exercise, smoked and drank to much alcohol.

The least likely to suffer a heart attack followed 5 healthy habits:

1. Eating a healthy diet.
2. Drinking moderately.
3. Never smoked.
4. Excercised moderately (such as walking or biking)  40 minutes a day and vigorously at least one hour per week.
5. Maintained a healthy waistline (about 37.4 inches or less).

The researchers concluded that 4 out of 5 heart attacks could be prevented by sticking to these 5 healthy habits.

If someone you love is diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening disease, you may feel desperate and completely helpless. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Research has shown us that family and friends can play a huge role in helping patients deal with a chronic illness.

When a person is suffering from a chronic illness, it’s important that they feel truly cared about. What matters most is how people interact with the sick person.

Here are some ways that patients and their families can get the kind of support they want from others:

• Put an end to family secrets. In other words, honesty is still the best policy. We often try to protect our families and loved ones from bad news, but hiding a person’s serious illness from the rest of the family can backfire. Communicate directly and be open with family members.
• Include your children. Although their understanding of the situation may be limited, children still appreciate being told what’s going on around them. Children can sometimes view themselves as the cause of problems or major events that happen around them. They may view a parent’s illness as being caused by something they did. Be open, honest, let children know it’s OK to ask questions. This will help relieve some of their anxiety. Remember, a child can be a great source of laughter and warmth for a sick individual.
• Be selective. Everybody under the sun doesn’t need to know about your illness or your loved one’s illness. Choose who you care to share your news with carefully. Some relationships will prosper and some will become strained. What’s important is that you feel that sharing the information with an individual will provide a stronger sense of support and strength.
• Be clear about how family and friends can help. People want to feel useful. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help or favors, such as cooking a meal or helping with the school carpool.

Finally, if someone you love if suffering from a chronic illness, learn about the disease, help out with daily errands and chores, and give emotional support. Sometimes we all need a shoulder to cry on.

via How to Help a Friend or Loved One Suffering from a Chronic Illness.

Every year families gather around tables across the USA to celebrate Thanksgiving. But how did it become an official holiday?

The idea of creating a formal national holiday originated with Abraham Lincoln.

In an 1863 proclamation — amid the still-raging Civil War — Lincoln designated Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

via Traditions: How Thanksgiving became an official holiday.

We, as Americans, have created the best healthcare system in the history of the world. But this “best” system faces some daunting challenges. The current employer must rethink their healthcare focus from just buying an insurance policy to a managed, data driven healthcare strategy.

Current Strategies used by Employers for the Past Five Years

• Employers cost shifted to employees  or absorbed the cost themselves.
• Employers monitored discounts (price) but not utilization.
• Employers received claims data as reports.
• Employers had no comparative information on the quality and cost of providers.
• Employers reviewed large claim activity.
• Employers sponsored health fairs and wellness screens for healthy well.
• Employers focused on negotiating the 10-20% fixed costs.

Future Employer Strategies Going Forward

• Employers will be directly involved in helping manage the healthcare delivery system.
• Employers will closely monitor utilization patterns and cost of the 25% of the population driving 90% of the cost.
• Employers will receive Executive Reports analyzing trends, demographics, actionable clinical information, chronicle disease reports, healthcare index factors, etc.
• Employers will focus on Healthcare Provider Process Improvement Programs and know the value of specific providers.
• Employers will know the healthcare index of their population and focus on large claim prevention.
• Employers will implement chronic disease management programs, predictive analysis, nurse navigators, nurse practitioners and wellness coaches.
• Employers will focus on managing the 80-90% of their health benefit cost which is claims.

Employers that make effective positive changes to the way they manage their healthcare will be rewarded with healthier more productive employees and lower cost for them and their employees.