Making the Case for Case Managers

B'SD

6/7 Tamuz, 5775

I'm sharing an important FYI with you. I just posted it to one of my facebook pages.

Empower Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge

Just now · 

THIS is why patients need case managers, advocates, friends & relatives speaking up for them! ‪#‎malpractice‬ http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/…/when-doctors-dont-talk-to…/…

When Doctors Don't Talk to Doctors

Poor communication between doctors and patients is discussed relatively frequently. But what about confusion between the teams of doctors who share patients in the hospital?

WELL.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM|BY ALLISON BOND

Empower Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge

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Please read pages 42-47 (Lessons for Caregivers) of  EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge and photocopy the content. Hand out copies to members of your medical team and the supervisors of the medical sites treating you or someone important to you.



Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. Use it to protect yourself and people important to you.





Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Fend off problems with pro-active behavior.

You're NOT Searching for Your Life's Meaning. You're Creating it.

B'SD

11 Sivan, 5775

The 44C/107F-plus  weather in Israel has been brutally hot and physically plus mentally draining this week. 

I was simply too tired with the rest of life and the high heat to post messages on this blog. But I had a moving experience yesterday that I want to share with you.

I often volunteer my time, insights and efforts to help people or organizations in need of them. I tend to interact with people and situations involved in medical and/or emotional and mental health stress.

One of the people I'd recently helped took me out for a cup of coffee in an outdoor cafe as the excessively high heat cooled down for the Middle East night. We spoke of the person's life history (I had not previously known it), attitude toward the future, and assessment of a highly problematic past. The conversation became charged with spiritual implications and realizations.

I do Self-Help Coaching with clients who are uncertain of how to proceed with their futures because of their medical conditions. I help them to clarify their challenges, identify their goals and to create an agenda for achieving those goals. Then they're on their own, to make necessary efforts.

The person before me had done this without my input. I found the courage, clear headedness and humility captivating (please notice that I'm intentionally avoiding pronouns such as "him" or "her" so I can protect the person's privacy). With further discussion, we agreed that such a mindset is due to one specific focus:

You're not searching for your life's meaning. 

You're creating it.

So many people trek around the world, ingest (usually illegal and unsafe) substances or indulge in unproductive self-analysis as they seek emotional comfort. They remain stuck, not necessarily knowing why that's so. People who are "looking for themselves" tend be trying to escape their thinking processes and emotional tendencies, not in finding their true self and then making progress.

The solution to the problem is attitudinal. 

Choose to make progress instead of swirling in the aftermath of unpleasant circumstances. 

Make incremental changes, one at a time. 

The person before me at the cafe had done so despite horrific betrayals and medical manipulation. I was awed at the result: A face glowing with self respect, a person making sensible choices, and a life going forward despite the bumps that tend to whack us mortals when we least expect them.

I then explained that 

shows readers how to do much of that 

with the cooperation of loved ones, 

their medical professionals, 

or all on their own.

The book holds fill-in-the-blank lines
that you and/or they can fill in together 
or individually.

I came away from the conversation happier for realizing that I'd made a choice to empower my readers. It's no simple matter to carry on with heartache, debts and illness that seem to impede many simple choices. Over time, some of those readers have contacted me to express their gratitude for the content. 

I pray that the book will help you to create some of your life's meaning.

I salute you for your determination and your focus on a better tomorrow.

Here's an insightful look at what you're accomplishing.

 


Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. 





Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Fill your soul with spirituality, positive growth beyond your present limitations.

Coping with a Medical Mistake (or More)

B'SD

10 Elul 5770


Readers, I'm a former Health Information Management professional. I knew way back when not to believe urban legends about patients who marked themselves before surgeries i.e., left shoulder, operate HERE, etc.

Why?

I knew they weren't legends. I knew medical professionals who'd made horrific blunders and patients who'd suffered them. I knew other patients who literally drew on themselves with pens or markers, in an effort to prevent such problems.

Then it became personal.

As friends clung to me minutes before my brain surgery, they were puzzled at the blue lines acoss my forehead. "That's a guide for the surgeons. An intern drew them to prevent disaster. Smart guy, huh?" I responded.

Yes, the medical world is facing the reality that doctors make human errors. And now the medical world is adding communication, including apologies, to damaged people. It won't erase the damage but it can reduce emotional scars on both sides of the surgical team.

Read this New York Times Health and Wellness blog entry Talking to Patients After a Medical Mistake and note comment 45.

I apologize for my recent spate of late-in-the-day blogposts. The heat in Israel has been brutal for weeks. I'm worn down from it and rather behind in my daily schedules.

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Should You Sue Your Doctor or Medical Institution?

B'SD

Av 26 5770


As a recent American Medical Association (AMA) study reveals, far too many Americans are lying about alleged medical malpractice and negligence.

A health-oriented coach, I appreciate the serious nature of genuine malpractice and negligence. BUT... too often, too many people consider lawsuits a sport or quick path to riches at the expense of a conscientious, competent doctor. I doubt that they'll learn lessons about allegedy quackery from this reality check. They endanger medical life for all of us.

That unfounded fear lead, in part, to Obama's Health Care Deforms. The American public failed to protest them due to poorly preconceived ideas about negligence and malpractice.

Here's the reality-check report you need to read:

Almost 1 Medical Malpractice Claim
Filed for Every Physician,
Reports AMA

Re-think that lawsuit you dream of filing. When you want to do better research than listening to some gossip lie and exaggerate to you, check out the actual American Medical Association (AMA) site http://www.ama-assn.org/

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Would You Believe THIS Medical Malpractice Story?

B'SD

7 Iyar 5770



"Would You Believe THIS Medical Malpractice Story? "

That's a question I hear often on my speaking tours. And yes, I tend to believe them: Severe pains that turned into undiagnosed appendicitis leading to a burst appendix. A systemic blood infection that led to the loss of corneas and then to lifelong vision problems. An overlooked pneumonia infection in a helpless infant who then suffered respiratory problems. His poorly oxygenated body led to the loss of a tiny hand and fingers that would never stroke mommy's face or hold a toy.

I could go on but you get the idea. You probably know of a medical horror story or two.

Want to ease the pain and suffering?

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Are Texas Prosecutors OUT OF THEIR MINDS?????????????

B'SD

URGENT UPDATE: “To me, this is completely over the top,” said Louis A. Clark, president of the Government Accountability Project, a group that promotes the defense of whistle-blowers. “It seems really, really unique.”

For goodness' sakes, my motto is "Coping with a Medical Crisis? Make the Changes You Need in Your Life."

Readers, I am SPEECHLESS at this monstrous turn of events. If you live in Texas, or anywhere, I hope you'll pray for justice in this case:

Texas Nurse to Stand Trial for Reporting Doctor - NYTimes.com
www.nytimes.com

It occurred to Anne Mitchell as she was writing the letter that she might lose her job, which is why she chose not to sign it. But it was beyond her conception that she would be indicted and threatened with 10 years in prison for doing what she knew a nurse must: inform state regulators that a doct...

That nurse is heroic!

Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Doctor, I am NOT Making This Up!

16 Kislev 5768

My focus at this time of year is to keep your spirits up. I present to you an article about a woman who developed the courage and insight to teach the medical world and everyone around her to pay attention to the evidence: Evidence that she had a physical, not a mental, problem.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/71725

Moral of the real life story: When you’re dissatisfied with the medical assessment of your problem, and you’re certain that you need a second opinion, maybe a third, GET IT!

Mimic her. Imitate every sound psychological action you know of. Insist that your symptoms be addressed professionally, correctly, competently.

UPDATE: It is CRUCIAL, Important as Can Be, to Check Out the Competence of Medical Personnel and Hospitals. Here's One reason why: Hospital Fined for Brain Surgeries on Wrong Side of Head

THIS is why my book It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To teaches readers how to AVOID MEDICATION ERRORS: Hospital medication errors widespread

TOOLS for Learning about Medical Competence (I'll update this information over time):

2007 US News and World Report Rankings of Neurology and Neurosurgery Hospitals http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/search.php?spec=ihqneur

and

Hospital Comparison Tool for Craniotomies (surgery on the skull) http://healthnet.sqctool.com/index.aspx?f=healthnet_federal

As soon as you know you’ll be hospitalized, you can start to pack for the occasion.

Read It's MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry if I Need To and find a list of essentials you’ll need to pack whether you’re a man, woman or child. And learn what to leave out!



Spread more cheer during the holiday season. Buy It's MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry if I Need To at http://www.booklocker.com/books/3067.html

Order it in book stores if it’s not on the shelves. It's MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry if I Need To can be shipped worldwide. Specialty editions are available for large organizations.

Booksellers, save on large quantities of It’s MY Crisis!
https://secure.booklocker.com/booklocker/wholesale/order.php

To your good health,

Yocheved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life.

Doctors, Take Your Patients Seriously. Please!

5 Kislev 5768

My dear readers, you and I can share a deeply understood reality as no other people can: Medical indifference and medical incompetence.

When doctors, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, dismiss our very real physical symptoms as mere fluff or psychological silliness that they prefer not to encounter, a heavy price is paid.

It is paid by the person who is truly ill. See this story for the sad outcome of medical indifference:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23407657-details/Girl+dies+of+brain+tumour+after+doctor+tells+her+

The young woman could have been saved in an instant, several times over. All she needed was a doctor who took her seriously.

Moral of the Story: Insist on being taken most seriously when you know in your gut, in your heart, that you require medical attention. Find a responsive, responsible medical professional when the folks you've consulted do not respond appropriately. That's what I call Patient Empowerment.

Now, let's focus some more on Patient Empowerment. I've written on past posts that ill people (and healthy people) can restructure their futures to a significant extent. That belief and reality are the very core of my Self-Help Coaching work.

There's a terrific book about how our thought processes determine our destinies more than we usually imagine (sickness, health, opportunities, scholarship and more). The good news is that we can control the biology of our beliefs. Who says so? Award-winning Dr. Bruce Lipton, who presents proofs for his assertion that we humans do not have to be hostage to genetic factors. I reviewed his best-selling book for one of the publications that use my journalistic efforts.

Here's the URL to my book review of The Biology of Belief:







http://www.jewishpress.com/displayContent_new.cfm?contentid=26023&mode=a&contentname=Title%3A_The_Biology_Of_Belief%3A_Unleashing_The_Power_Of_Consciousness%2C_Matter%2C_And_Miracles&recnum=1§ionid=14

Good news, isn't it?

Spread more cheer during holiday season. Buy It's MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry if I Need To. Click on http://www.booklocker.com/books/3067.html

Order it in book stores if it’s not on the shelves. It's MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry if I Need To can be shipped worldwide. Specialty editions are available for large organizations.

Booksellers, save money on large quantities of It’s MY Crisis!
https://secure.booklocker.com/booklocker/wholesale/order.php

COMING UP: Stress messes up our ability to remember details. Anyone going through a medical crisis needs help with keeping facts straight. Next week I'll provide you with tips for boosting your memory. Those tips are also good for anyone not facing a medical crisis. See you next week!

To your good health,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life.