Imagine if you will… happier and healthier employees, fewer sick days, improved productivity, better bottom-line. Sound like a fairy tale? It could actually be your in company’s future. Many companies that have adopted employee health and wellness programs are reaping these rewards as we speak. I came across an article recently that described how companies are handling rising health care costs and what they are doing to encourage employees to make healthier decisions.

The idea of employee health and wellness programs is not new but now it’s becoming more widespread.  And as part of President Obama’s health reform plan, I think we will be hearing more and more about it. So go ahead and participate in your company’s program. And if your company doesn’t have one, suggest one.

Did you see the new Gallup Poll about medical travel?  More Americans see medical travel as a viable option – if the QUALITY OF CARE IS THE SAME as it is here in the states.  The poll of 5,050 adults involved a split-sample experiment. One random half-sample was asked the “direct” question on whether they would consider treatment abroad. The second half was asked whether they would consider treatment abroad assuming “the quality was the same and the costs significantly cheaper.” Given that assurance, the percentage saying they would consider medical treatment outside U.S. borders increased by 12% on average. The poll has a 2% margin of error. Read more

May is finally here!  No more cold and snowy weather. It’s time for fun in the sun with outdoor barbeques, weekends at the lake, gardening and a host of other outdoor activities.  But before you step outside, is your skin protected?  According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is by far the most commonly diagnosed cancer here in the U.S.  But there are some guidelines you can follow to help reduce your risk.

So remember to take a few minutes each day to protect your skin and if you’ve never had a screening, get one on the calendar.  I’ve got mine scheduled…do you?

Want to BE a successful blogger?  Then check out some Basic “Be”s of Blogging to find out what it takes to make it in the blogosphere.

1. Be current.
   Don’t let your blog get stale!  Make the commitment to update your blog regularly with topics that are timely.  Set a schedule to post 2-3 times a week and you’ll reward your readers with fresh content that encourages return visits.
2. Be authentic.
   When writing blogs, it’s okay to be informal, and it’s okay to not be perfect.  Getting caught up in editing and word-smithing can inhibit creativity and prevent you from following Blogging Basic #1.   So let your personality shine through and don’t fall victim to paralysis by analysis!  And just in case you were wondering, ghostwriting is a big no-no.
3. Be interactive.
   Remember, blogging is a form of social media.  So, ask questions in your blog to encourage discussion.  Reply to comments (respectfully, of course!) to keep readers involved.  Include links to Web sites that inspired your post to direct your readers to additional information.
4. Be valuable.
   Whether it’s giving helpful hints, releasing breaking news or simply providing food for thought, make sure your blog is of value to readers.  Use your blog to educate, inform and even entertain to get your blog bookmarked.

Check out some more quick tips on blogging here and let me know what you think should be a BE of blogging!

I’ve been watching with great curiosity the rise in popularity of medical travel. Since 2005, more than half a million Americans have traveled overseas seeking healthcare that is cheaper and allegedly of the same quality. Traveling to Singapore, India, Brazil or any number of exotic destination countries for major surgery that it is 50 to 80 percent cheaper may sound enticing. Especially when a procedure such as a triple bypass could cost $130,000 in the States, but only $10,000 in, let’s say, India.

But what about the quality of care? How do you know that you’ll receive equal or better quality outcomes than you would from a double board certified cardiothoracic surgeon right here in North America? There’s ample data on the cost of care posted on international care web sites, but please tell me you wouldn’t simply make your choice of hospital and surgeon on the price tag! Finding the quality provider requires A LOT of work to ferret through regulatory (Joint Commission International), third-party (International Organization for Standardization) and internal assessments. Finding quality indicators (mortality and infection rates, etc.) is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Despite increased competition that US providers will face (more on this in another blog), I hope medical travel gets its act together. I’m eager to see international providers market their quality with as much transparency as they do their price. In the meantime, caveat emptor – buyer beware.

Read more…

A few years ago, I worked on an ad campaign that educated women about heart disease. During this process, I met some great women with incredible survival stories. It was an eye-opening experience for me and it inspired me to become an advocate. Now, I tell everyone and anyone who will listen about heart disease in women because it’s very important to become proactive in your heart health rather than reactive.

The statistics of heart disease are staggering! Nearly twice as many women die from heart disease and stroke than from all forms of cancer combined, including breast cancer. Why? Because most women ignore the signs or don’t know what signs to look for. The symptoms of heart disease are very different for women than they are for men. Many women don’t have the crushing chest pain like you see in the movies. Instead, women may have nausea, back pain or even heartburn.

To learn more, visit www.hearthealth4women.org and pass it on!