Urimana

As someone who has been teaching health informatics students for a number of years, it is rewarding to find this discipline finally receiving the attention and interest it demands. Most health experts have agreed for some time that the two academic disciplines of informatics and genomics are the key disciplines that will shape the future of American healthcare by enabling doctors to have access to personalized healthcare information at the point of care.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes specific wording supporting increased funding of health informatics programs around the nation. A recent article in the New York Times has noted that there is a greatly increased demand for “health informatics specialists” who have expertise in medical records, insurance claims, clinical care and computer programming as health care providers look to utilize the $19 billion in stimulus funding directed at implementing and expanding electronic health records.

Health informatics specialists usually start their career or education in computer programming or as health care professionals, and later earn a degree in health informatics and take midlevel or senior jobs at a hospital, doctor’s office, insurance company, drug firm or other organization working with health care data. The experience of the UC Davis Health Informatics program, which I direct, is that most of our graduates have found senior positions in health informatics in both public and private sectors, including a number who have become faculty in health informatics programs, and are now teaching future generations of students.

William Hersh MD, Chair of the Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology at Oregon Health and Science University was quoted in the New York Times as saying , “The health IT people run the servers and install software, but the informatics people are the leaders, who interpret and analyze information and work with the clinical staff.” It is crucial to have highly trained experts in informatics who are able to work across both the disciplines of health and information technology, and who understand and are expert in both. Without these informatics experts it is hard to see how the Obama Administration policies for Health Information Technology can possibly be implemented.

The American Medical Informatics Association is the main professional body relating to health informatics experts and Don Detmer MD, the Chief Executive Officer, said, “My rough estimate is that we need about 70,000 health informaticists” to meet Electronic Health Record goals laid out in the stimulus bill. Prior to the stimulus bill, most experts agreed that just to keep progressing with Health IT implementation at our current relatively slow rate, it would be necessary to have another 10,000 health informaticists by 2012. All that is now changed, and there is an urgent need for many more highly trained health informatics specialists, and programs such as UC Davis are planning to more than double their current output of students within the next three years, assuming extra stimulus funding.

It is interesting how the public has caught on to the need for increased numbers of health informatics specialists. This is demonstrated by the already dramatically increased numbers of applicants to the UC Davis program, where we are currently working with more than 50 applicants to our Masters program, having recently also enrolled 30 students in the first quarter of our new Certificate program.

It is crucial that the health workforce is retrained for 21st Century medical needs, and with health being one of the relatively few expanding sectors of the workforce, training in disciplines such as health informatics is essential if we are to improve the way health services are delivered to the nation. We have to be realistic about the fact that there will be increased needs in future as the current 46 million uninsured are likely to be covered by some form of universal insurance and offered more comprehensive care than they have been able to receive in the past. This can only happen if we use Health Information Technology intelligently, and universally, and for that to happen we have to dramatically increase the number of health informatics experts around the country.

This article is based on excerpts from “Your Health in the Information Age – how you and your doctor can use the Internet to work together” by Peter Yellowlees MD. Available at http://www.InformationAgeHealth.com and most online bookstores. An eBook version, for download to iPhones and mobile devices called “4 simple steps to better health – an insiders look” is available at Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1271

Why should you work with a health coach? What is a health coach and how do you use the services of one? Five years ago a health coach was an unknown profession except in the world of corporate executives or large corporations. Now it is a growing business with health coaches, wellness coaches and fitness coaches. In our age of growing baby boomers people are turning to coaches more and more for help with health or fitness related issues that they cannot resolve. We are in a movement of people acquiring more knowledge about health risks and wanting to make sound choices in their lives and prevent catastrophic problems. People are living longer each year and it is of utmost importance to keep ourselves healthy to live those extra years with a good quality of life.

A health coach is there for you to be your partner in taking charge of your health, recognizing bad choices and teaching you to make wise choices. Included in the job description of a health coach is the training that they incorporate into an action plan for you. They empower you, support you, motivate and inspire you, encourage you and challenge you.

A health coach gives you a new approach to your lifestyle in terms of getting fit, understanding what beneficial habits are and learning to stop non-beneficial habits. You and the coach focus on health changes you need to make and also on managing chronic health conditions enhancing your life.

There are some important points to consider when you are trying to stay healthy, reach a fitness or nutritional goal or manage a chronic health issue. Listed are some points to consider;

1. You need to have a goal to reach. That goal is specific for each individual. Examples would be a goal to lose 10 pounds, a goal to increase your endurance so you can go hiking for 5 miles with your kids, a goal to learn to eat nutritionally and decrease junk food, a goal of becoming more fit when you have severe arthritis. You can see what I mean, that goals are different for everyone. When you work with a health coach you and the coach decide what the goal should be, and put it in some concrete fashion. Concrete fashion could be a contract, written goals with specific time lines, you get the idea. Your coach works for you and with you to persevere towards that or those specific goals. Your coach should be able to motivate you, understand what needs you may have and continually promote progress. Your coach should also be able to listen to you and respect your concerns and issues that may be holding you back from reaching your goals.

2. Any wellness program has a fitness program. Your health coach works with you to research and plan for a specific program. The coach also motivates and inspires you to perform the program and push yourself.

3 A change in lifestyle is usually necessary to reach a goal of optimum health. A health coach has the knowledge to promote those changes in you and is your advocate when you are working against yourself.

4. Your health coach educates you about wellness, nutrition and fitness. Your coach should be knowledgeable about anatomy, physiology, disease processes and many other facets about health and disease. A health coach should provide you with informative articles, news, or places of value to you in bringing you to your optimum level of wellness.

5. Your health coach should have the knowledge base to understand your health and potential health issues and involve a medical professional when necessary.

6. A health coach should be persistent, dedicated to you and patient with you.

A health coach is a motivating and inspiring force behind you. A health coach wants to bring you to your optimum level of health. Teaming up with a health coach can help you to achieve success, to emulate models of health and have an advisor who supports you and is a positive change agent in your life.

Kat is a RN and health coach. With over 20 years in practice she has an extensive knowledge base and is a motivating force. To read more visit her website and blog at [http://www.goddessofchange.com]

Did you know that each hour in each civilized country, at least five men die from conditions that are potentially preventable? Or that men live on average six years less than women?

According to the Australian Medical Association, many men treat their health as a low priority while they juggle the competing demands of work and family life. Apparently, men often adopt a “functional view” of their bodies. Only when their work, play or exercise is below par, they understand there may be a problem. Another fact is that most men stop visiting doctors regularly between the age of 20 and 45. By the time the begin visiting GP’s again, their ailments are more chronic in nature!

Like a car needs a regular inspection and service, your health needs a regular inspection as well! Prevention and early detection are key. To prevent and mitigate risks of obesity, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc., there is a thing you can do: an annual men’s health check! This is the best advice I can give you, as it will most certainly help you to maintain and protect your own health.

The main objectives of a men’s health check/assessment are:

* To improve and maintain your well being in the short and long term.
* To ensure you maintain your physical independence in the long term.
* To prevent the onset of disease, including cancer.
* To detect disease early, including cancer.

A complete men’s health check should cover the detection and prevention of:

* Nutritional imbalances.
* Excess body weight.
* Disease of your heart and arteries (cardiovascular disease – build-up of plaque in your arteries).
* High blood pressure (hypertension).
* Abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia).
* Abnormal blood sugar (insulin resistance/pre-diabetes/diabetes).
* Prostate problems.
* Weak bones (osteoporosis), calcium and vitamin D deficiencies.
* Screening for cancer, in particular skin, testicles, prostate, bowel.
* Sexual difficulties, in particular erection and ejaculation problems (optional).
* Sexually transmitted infections (optional).
* Immunizations.

Most large medical centers offer health checks and there are specialized men’s health check centers in most large cities around the world. They’ll do a full health check and provide you with advise on how to improve your health. It will all be on a strictly confidential basis! A men’s health check will take you at least 1 to 2 hours and will cost approx. $300-$600 of which you can claim a large part from your health insurance. A lot of employers do have agreements in place with external health and well being providers, so just ask internally if your employer can arrange and fund your annual health check.

To find a men’s health check specialist near you, just Google “men’s health check” with your location to find a specialized center near you. Please do yourself a big favor and schedule a health check appointment on the short term. It is one of the best health investments you can make!

Make your health your top priority. You can’t buy your health or life back after years of neglecting it while you earn your living!

“To get rich never risk your health! For it is the truth that health is the wealth of wealth.” – Richard Baker

Make this a Positive & Fruitful Day….unless you have other plans!

Thanks, warm regards & success,
© Patrick W. Driessen. All rights reserved.

Patrick Driessen is a visionary, entrepreneurial and intuitive executive leader, author, executive coach, mentor and inspirational speaker with a passion to help other people succeed! His stories are most often thought provoking, inspirational and motivational!

Health is often pictured out as taking supplements and doing workouts. So health investments are usually channeled to them. However, physical condition and appearance are just one aspect of it. Other equally pressing health concerns should be given weight. Health that works is holistic.

Looking Good But Sick

To some extent, muscle workouts fight off stress. Especially when one’s environment and life situation are favorable. But in another sense, pumping iron and treadmills alone are no match to the ill effects of massive distress when the other aspects of holistic health are ignored. Physical workouts can sometimes even do more harm than good when other holistic health factors are not balanced. There are bodybuilders who register dismally during blood chemistry tests due mostly to over-stress.

Other Aspects of Holistic Health

1. Mental health. Mental stress alone is deadly. What more when partnered with emotional stress? Mental stress triggers chemical reactions that upset natural functions in our body systems, like the immune system. Thus, people with mental stress have their immune defenses down and easily get sick.

Worse, it can lead to overeating that, if unchecked, may cause the blood pressure to abnormally increase. Combine this with a stressful workout and the effect can be lethal. However, with the right attitude and program, workouts can stave off mental stress. Health that works gives due credence to mental strength.

2. Emotional health. Once the emotions take over a person, overeating may set in. Among the tough enemies of fitness is overeating, and among the most powerful fuel of overeating is emotional distress. A single miscalculated weight gain can sometimes ruin an entire slimming program and negate whatever gains one may have.

Lots of body builders can’t figure out their inability to reduce weight or flabby fat despite their ardent workouts. It is due to their non-holistic approach to fitness. They workout at the gym but never fix their emotional stress. Few realize this, but a broken marriage or family, for instance, has dire effects in overall health. Holistic health that works keeps emotions under control.

3. Financial health. The need to be financially able cannot be overstressed. Sustained quality health entails lots of expenses, simply put. Healthy food doesn’t come cheap, especially organic ones. All-natural health supplements cost a fortune when taken religiously. And they have to be taken thus to get their full benefits. Taking them now and then will not work. Even juicing alone costs plenty.

Furthermore, regular executive check ups are a must for both men and women. Thus, added income generation is crucial to support a quality program for health that works and lasts a lifetime. Moreover, a lack in the family income is another source of distress that can trigger harmful chemical reactions in the body.

4. Spiritual health. This is not about having a religion. It is about connecting to a higher spiritual Source to have peace within oneself. You can have all the religion you want and yet remain spiritually disquieted. The spiritual is really intertwined with the mental and emotional. The three cannot be separated in holistic health. Health that works is holistic.

Some attain gratification in this area by being one with nature. Some by immersing in mystical Eastern cultures. Generally, it is intimacy with God taken to a subliminal level that goes beyond religious rituals and boundaries. Spiritual health explains why tai-chi practitioners possess an incredible source of energy and power which are beyond scientific explanation. God-fearing men in the bible retained excellent health even in ripe old ages. Inner tranquility and composure begets a resilient spirit.

5. Social health. Even powerful animals, like lions, weaken when segregated from their kind. Fellowship is not only inherent in mankind; it is crucial for survival. Mental, emotional and spiritual sanity are hinged on a vigorous social life. Financial triumph is equally dependent on a network of contacts.

Hence, health that works is holistic. It invests equal time, effort, and resources on all its aspects.

Juancho S. Gaerlan has been in the holistic health field since he started taking up various eastern martial arts as a teenager in 1975 to keep fit. Since then to the present, he has maintained a fit body and disciplined eating. For years, he has developed a practical health system that really works. This has helped many of his students control their overeating and slim down.

Enjoying a health and fitness system is the first step to a program that really works. It is vital to find a system that you are comfortable with and which you enjoy. Then you make progress for life.

Keeping fit in practical terms, to Gaerlan’s mind, means having money to sustain it. Aside from this, a true health potential involves mind and spirit power, aside from being mature emotionally and socially. Later, he started All Power Health online.

All Power Health is a site for a holistic approach on quality health, touching on the physical, financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social aspects of it. It has specifics, articles, and features on practical holistic health tips that really work and can be enjoyed for life. [http://www.allpowerhealth.com]

HSA is becoming renowned as an inconceivable tool to decrease health insurance premiums and still give good safety for health care emergencies.

HSA health insurance means Health Savings Account and its getting fame amongst people from all economic brackets. While it’s been mostly employed by people with high deductible plans, anybody could employ an HSA to keep for future medical expenses. It’s straightforward to make and fund an HSA account if your employer proffers one. You make a decision how much you want to make contribution at the start of the year, and that amount is included to the account unthinkingly. You afterward disburse for the account all through the year by means of payroll inferences.

Health Savings Accounts contain two elements – the high deductible health plan (HDHP), and the Health Savings Account (HSA) itself. By cautiously selecting which bank you employ to set up your HSA, and deliberately selecting how to fund your account and run your savings, you will be capable of find the most profit on your money while maintaining your costs to a minimum.

For the uppermost customers of health insurance, which are self employed individuals with no group plan to cover up them, the HSA is one of the best weapons. Take benefit of any of the top company plans, and select your agent cautiously. There are ample of dependable health insurance companies out there. Discover an agent that understands what auxiliary tools to offer to improve your HSA, and harvest the premium and tax privileged investments for you and yours.

The Health Savings Account, HSA, has a number of resemblances to the protection health insurance plans. Since the Health Savings Account is perhaps most suitable to the person that doesn’t need many health care, or health checks. These persons, who most generally are men, can get the Health Savings Account to be a good option for them.

Health Savings Accounts are a means to both have a method to keep and disburse for medical costs. Every contribution that are completed to the Health Savings Account that go not used to for medical reasons are kept in a investments account. This investments account could hold a lot of well-liked savings, like mutual funds. Therefore, getting back to the person that keeps away from medical care, this individual contributions for both best of both worlds. They obtain the safeguard of the much-desired health insurance.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) will assist escort us into a new age of health care and out of the disaster we are in these days. Be component of the future. HSAs are available now.

If you want to get some excellent resources on health insurance, please visit my site on All about Health Insurance or Health Insurance and HSA.