Patient Advocacy

Google Inc. has announced it will start storing medical records online. The search giant will begin testing the new program by storing medical records from several thousand Cleveland Clinic patients who volunteered for an electronic transfer of their personal health records to Google. The new medical records service won't be open to the general public.

People with disabilities face obstacles almost everywhere they turn. Yes, the American Disability Act has paved the road to clear some of these obstacles, but many others remain. The attitude of others towards their disability is possibly the most significant roadblock to quality of life.

One area where hindrances to services would not be expected would be in the medical arena. Certainly, doctors and nurses would be the most compassionate, and also assure all benefits of care were provided, regardless of the person's infirmities.

What are one’s choices when Mom (or perhaps Dad) just is not able to live alone. Perhaps, minimal caretakers to provide food and some personal care may be the answer. Sometimes, that is not enough, and the home situation becomes unsafe for the elder parent to live in alone.

A Nursing Home may be one of the options chosen. But how do you choose the best nursing home for your aging parent?

Before you can make a decision about your care, you first need to understand your diagnosis and the different treatment options that may improve your health. It is important to know what each treatment involves and what it will and will not do. Ask your doctor to have the information about the treatment choices written down.

Once you know your treatment choices, learn the pros and cons of each one. Ask your doctor what are the benefits and risks of each treatment option. For example, find out what side effects may occur, how long the treatment would take, and how likely it is that the treatment would work for you.

How well you and your doctor talk to each other is one of the most important parts of getting good health care. Unfortunately, talking with your doctor isn't always easy. In the past, the doctor typically took the lead and the patient followed. Today, a good patient-doctor relationship is a partnership. You and your doctor can work as a team.

Creating a basic plan before you go to the doctor can help you make the most of your visit. The following tips will make it easier for you and your doctor to cover everything you need to talk about.

One of the fastest growing age groups using the Internet, older Americans increasingly turn to the World Wide Web for health information. In fact, 68 percent of wired seniors surf for health and medical information when they go online.

is based on the latest research on cognition and aging. It features short, easy-to-read segments of information that can be accessed in a variety of formats, including various large-print type sizes, open-captioned videos and an audio version. The site also links to MedlinePlus , the National Library of Medicine's premier, more detailed site for consumer health information.

"Most people know that communicating with their doctor is important to their health care, especially as they age and are more likely to have health conditions and treatments to discuss," says Judith A. Salerno, M.D., NIA deputy director. "The key is to know how to have that conversation."

Older adults can turn to this newest feature on the NIHSeniorHealth Web site for information on managing conversations with their doctor. How to prepare for a doctor visit, what to ask, what information to provide, and how to understand what the doctor says are among the many helpful tips older adults can find on the site.

How do you talk about a sensitive subject with your doctor? What if you forget to ask an important question? What if you feel rushed during your visit? How can you get the most out of your visit with your health care provider? Being able to communicate openly, comfortably and assertively with your doctor can help you make good health decisions and stay well. But some older people shy away from this approach and hesitate to ask questions or take the doctor's time.

Moving is always a challenge; transitioning to an assisted living home or nursing home is even more-so. Moving into a nursing home is usually not something someone does willingly and with any degree of excitement. Indeed, the move is usually a wrenching experience from the family home of many years, and is done by others.

Studies exist which indicate that a move into a nursing home increases one’s mortality due to the adverse impact of the change.

U.S. Senate investigators have found that insurance agents in at least 39 states used illegal or unethical methods to sell private Medicare Advantage plans, the Washington Post reported.

The underhanded tactics included enrolling dead or mentally incompetent people, using personal information stolen from federal records, and impersonating Medicare representatives.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday to look into the issue, the Post reported.