Snow Safety Tips from the AAOS0

As winter storms continue to cause disruption across the United States, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has some important safety information much closer to home. Snow shoveling can be dangerous. And while it can also be mundane, when combined with heavy lifting and cold weather, improper snow shoveling technique can result in injuries to the back and shoulders.

According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission:

  • In 2008, more than 70,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical settings for injuries sustained while shoveling or otherwise removing ice and snow manually. … Read more →

Mixing Up Meds0

There is an estimated 1 million adverse drug events each year in the United States due to the misuse of medications.  For the most part, patients obtain information on any particular medication from the prescription container label, notwithstanding the availability of other information in writing or provided in conversation with a pharmacist.

Even though these labels have certain legal requirements, it does not always translate well for the patient. … Read more →

Some Medicare Changes for 20112

According to the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), 70 million individuals are estimated to be Medicare beneficiaries over the next 20 years, compared to 45.2 million in 2008.

On its Website, the AARP provides some useful information for assessing plan changes in 2011.

  • Some drug and health plans will disappear in 2011, but unrelated to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
  • Some prescription plans will not be available in 2011, in part because insurers offering two or three plans must now make each significantly different. … Read more →