Mod 6 reflections

Over the course of this semester, we have discussed ways that we can be more mindful, and better informed consumers. After getting the basics of nutrition, and smart grocery shopping down, we explored some more in depth topics.

    When discussing the validity of a medical website, we learned that it was prudent to pay attention to the kind of site that it was. For instance, any site ending in .gov or .org would be far more likely to be a credible medical website, as opposed to a privately funded and run organization. Many people make the mistake to trust web M.D. or Wikipedia. These sites are privately sponsored, which means that companies endorse the website so that the website will advertise their product.

            When searching for a healthcare provider, many people are concerned with convenience and insurance. While these are valid concerns, it would serve the consumer’s purpose to pay attention to the kind of care that is being offered. While some respond to authority, others may be comfortable in a soothing and open environment. Alternative care is an option for those seeking open communication with their doctor. Ultimately, it is the consumer’s responsibility to advocate for their care.

    In my last living journal, quackery was one of the vocabulary word that I chose to define. Quackery is the promotion of a product or procedure by someone who is not in a position to do so. Many celebrities use their popularity to do this. Also, many products on the market are a form of quackery. These products are frauds that are designed to tempt people into purchasing them because they are inexpensive or easy to use. These products or procedures are rarely helpful, and sometimes dangerous. A telling sign that a product in a fraud is when the item re-appears under a different name. Because these items often aren’t medically sound, they will be taken off of the market. But they are often put back on the market under a different name. If an item is promising quick and painless results, or they claim not to cure or heal but to detoxify and strengthen the immune system, the item is probably a fraud. This link will bring you to a site that is promoting a fraudulent item.

      Chapter 4 explores health care. In the USA, Obamacare is currently being rolled out. Obamacare has many benefits and many concerns. National healthcare will promote the job market, and it will allow all Americans access to health care. It is expensive though. As a student under the age of twenty-six, Obamacare is very beneficial.

        I feel I am far more confident as a consumer. It is important for all consumers to understand that they are their own first and last defense. In order to receive the best care that they deserve, consumers must advocate for themselves.

       Maintaining my current BMI is something that I do through exercise. I alternate between going to the gym and using my elliptical at home. In the future, I will incorporate healthier options into my diet.

Module 4- Reflections

  In Module four, chapters five and six, we discussed prescriptions drugs, and how to be a smart consumer in regards to them. We also explored alternative therapies, the differences between a generic prescription and a brand name prescription.

      When filling a prescription for any drug, it is best to be very educated on the shape, nice, texture, and flavor of a pill. This is because counterfeit pills are a concern. Our discussion posts were predominantly about the ways to avoid using counterfeit pills. Common ways include filling your prescription at a reputable pharmacy, and avoid filling your prescription on the internet. But some more ways to be sure that you are taking the right pill to treat your ailments is to be very familiar with the pill. If you suspect that a pill that you are taking may be counterfeit, the responsible thing to do is report it to medwatch at 1-800-332-1088. This link provides a better understanding of some warning signs.

            The topic that I chose to write about in my discussion post was the comparison of brand name prescription drugs versus generic prescription drugs. Brand name drug companies run advertisements attempting to prove that their more expensive drugs are more effective. In reality, it is just the opposite. When a drug is approved by the FDA they are given a twenty year patent on the drug. This means that for twenty years, only the company may sell the drug in order to regain the profits that were put into the creation of the medication. After this patent is up, companies may make the drug and sell under the generic name. They must follow the same strict guideline s that the FDA sets for brand name drugs. The drugs must have the same bio-efficiency. The same amount of active ingredients must enter the blood-stream at the same time. But many people still prefer the brand name drug. In our discussion, most of us differed on our own personal preference.

                 We also learned about alternative therapies. Many people use them to aid, or in place of, traditional medicine. In the last twelve months, almost four out of twelve people have used complimentary or alternative medicines. One of my classmates has even used it with success, for his son’s allergies. But due to the lack of regulation or requirements for alternative therapies, they are questionable. Most due not directly harm a person, but because labeling can be misleading, a person may think that they are being treating when they are actually taking a placebo.

       After reflecting on chapters five and six, I would say that I am a smart consumer by being diligent in my research. I avoid borrowing pills and medication from family members and friends, and I always fill my prescriptions at the same reputable pharmacies. I am very familiar with medications that I take regularly, and I utilize my pharmacist. A pharmacist is there for a reason. I have seen many people ask the associate behind the counter rather important questions. More than not, the associate is a young person that is working for the drug store or grocery store. They aren’t trained to answer those questions. At best, they are attending college for pharmaceutical studies. They do not have the required license for your inquiries. I always direct any questions that I have about the medication to the pharmacist.

          This module has helped me to be more confident about introducing subject matter to a discussion. I am getting confident in my knowledge of consumer health. Next module I would like to participate more in the discussions. I have done consistently well on my quizzes, but I would like to do better.

Module 3-Reflections

In Chapter 3 Health Fraud, and Chapter 4 Health Insurance, We learned about smart decision making processes for all health related questions. When it comes to health concerns or decisions, there are many good decisions, and there are many poor choices that people make in order to find the easy way out, or to spend less money. We learned about making good decisions for our insurance and our health.

    Chapter 3 went explored the term quackery. In my last living journal, quackery was one of the vocabulary word that I chose to define. Quackery is the promotion of a product or procedure by someone who is not in a position to do so. Many celebrities use their popularity to do this. Also, many products on the market are a form of quackery. These products are frauds that are designed to tempt people into purchasing them because they are inexpensive or easy to use. These products or procedures are rarely helpful, and sometimes dangerous. A telling sign that a product in a fraud is when the item re-appears under a different name. Because these items often aren’t medically sound, they will be taken off of the market. But they are often put back on the market under a different name. If an item is promising quick and painless results, or they claim not to cure or heal but to detoxify and strengthen the immune system, the item is probably a fraud. This link will bring you to a site that is promoting a fraudulent item.

      Chapter 4 explores health care. In the USA, Obamacare is currently being rolled out. Obamacare has many benefits and many concerns. National healthcare will promote the job market, and it will allow all Americans access to health care. It is expensive though. As a student under the age of twenty-six, Obamacare is very beneficial.

     In the next Modules I hope to improve my participation. This will help my grade, and allow me to understand my classmates concerns and learn from those as well. In order to avoid falling victim to quackery, I will pay closer attention when purchasing a product or health plan or procedure. If the item seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Also if the doctor who is promoting the good or service has confusing credentials from a non-accredited school, then it probably isn’t legitimate.

Module 2- Reflections

          In module two, Being a Good Consumer and the American Healthcare system, we were encouraged to explore what steps are necessary to take to ensure that your are receiving the proper care. First, the example of shopping in a grocery store was introduced to help familiarize us with smart shopping in general. Chapter one of the text was mainly about what was good, what was bad, and how to avoid the bad. By re-reading the text a second time, I was able to recognize that the first chapter was a preamble to what was going to be more deeply explored in the second chapter.  In chapter two, healthcare, and how to receive the best care as a consumer, were the topics being discussed. Our seminar discussions focused mainly on healthcare.

     I was a part of discussion team two. We were concerned with the validity of medical websites, and how to ensure that our healthcare provider was the right fit for us. For example, Wikipedia and WebMD are both sites that do not contain valid and accredited medical information. The term quackery, or the promotion of health practices or remedies that have no compelling scientific basis, is what happens when a celebrity or important figure can do that is much like the information found on Wikipedia or WebMD. Despite the funny name, quackery made me contemplate how much information is out there that we just accept as truth. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/webresources has some helpful tips that will determine if a website is an accredited medical website. For example, if a website is selling something, or sponsored by a company that is selling something, it is likely that the information found on the website isn’t trustworthy.

     When discussing how to find a healthcare professional, the main concerns amongst our group were proximity to your home, if your insurance was accepted, and who would be looking after the patients in the event that the doctor was unavailable. We found http://www.nydoctorprofile.com/ and http://www.abms.org/ to be very helpful. These websites will allow you to search your prospective doctor, and see if any malpractice suits or complaints were made against him or her.

      While reading the text, I was interested in what a hospitalist was. A hospitalist, or a physician who coordinates or assumes much of a patients care, is a physician that is not commonly used in America. It’s a shame, because the personalized care helps patients to feel relaxed, and taken care of during their hospital stay. This link http://hospitalmedicine.ucsd.edu/people/about.shtml  provides more information about the benefits of a hospitalist.

       A health maintenance organization was a medical service that interested me. A maintenance organization operates by having subscribers pay a monthly or yearly fee for all healthcare and the organization controls costs and access to certain health services. This kind of organization interested me because it seems almost like a customizable insurance plan. http://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/medicare-health-plans/medicare-advantage-plans/hmo-plans.html offers more information health maintenance organizations.

     By re-reading the text, and applying my professor’s critiques to my discussion posts, I was able to improve my participation over the course of Module two. In module three, I hope to further improve by becoming even more active in the discussions, and developing a system for my notes.

     When considering if I would ever try any alternative medicine, I came across http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/1192-how-does-acupuncture-for-fertility-work-increase-chance-of-conception-without-side-effects.html , a website dedicated to acupuncture. Acupuncture has been used to increase chances in fertility. Infertility is a common issue, one that many of my friends and family members have dealt with. Because it causes the body no harm, and the main goal of acupuncture is to reduce stress, and reducing stress has proven beneficial with fertility, I would be open to researching acupuncture, if I wanted to reduce my stress levels.

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