The LuLac Edition #2144, August 1st, 2012
WRITE ON WEDNESDAY
HEALTH CARE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS
Jim Michaels who is Vice President of IT at Blue Cross wrote a pretty compelling article about how health care has changed so much due to technology. Not in Health Care but in our every day lives. This is what he had to say: With more people using smartphones, mobile apps and tablet computers, access to information is more readily available than ever. For health care consumers, advancements in technology already have impacted the way they receive and manage their care, and more changes are on the horizon. Here are some areas where health care consumers have noticed the greatest change. Access to health information on the Internet: Today there are countless websites that help consumers understand their health. Whether you want to research a certain ache or pain, or learn more about different surgical options, a wealth of online information is available. Of course, it’s important to make sure that the information is accurate and complete. Consumers should only consider online information from reputable sites that are affiliated with a professional, educational or government organization. And always remember that your personal physician is in the best position to offer medical advice. Any information gained from the Internet should be used only to help you start that conversation with your doctor. Access to personal information: Advances in IT also have made it possible to securely manage and share individual medical information online. Web-based applications make it easy to manage many aspects of a person’s health care, including insurance information, medical records, physician information, lab results and prescriptions. Access to family information: In addition to individual health management, IT developments can give you varying degrees of access to your family members’ medical information. These applications are ideal for those people who provide care for elderly parents or for children. The information is available at your fingertips and helps keep you in the loop when it comes to your family’s health and well-being. •General wellness tools: Everything from calorie counters and weight loss tips, to tools designed to help manage specific conditions such as diabetes, are available through IT applications and web-based sites. The information can be used either under the guidance of a physician or for general knowledge. All of these IT developments are driving a change of focus for health management. Through this open flow of information, patients can educate themselves and be more prepared when they meet with their physicians. This patient-centric model means individuals have more control and become more engaged in managing their care. Because we understand the value of IT as a tool for health care consumers, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania will continue to provide information access and health-management options for our members. Blue Cross offers apps for mobile devices such as Android and iPhones that provide our members with access to their health insurance information on the go. And soon, the Blue Cross website will include transparency tools to help consumers access performance ratings for physicians, cost-of-service calculators and provider grading systems from accredited bodies. In addition, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania is one of many entities that will be participating in Health Information Exchanges. These online clearinghouses will provide a vehicle for physicians, hospitals and other care providers to share health information securely and safely. They also allow individuals to control who has access to this data. The exchanges will help the health care system reduce costs, reduce duplication, provide better treatment and avoid conflicting care. Ultimately, all of this information helps you, the health care consumer, make more educated decisions. And when individuals become more educated and engaged in managing their health, everybody benefits. Jim Michaels is the vice president of information technology operations at Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, based in Wilkes-Barre.
posted by David Yonki @ 12:15 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
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Good morning students,
Well, the one good thing I can say concerning it is that it is the middle of the week and it will not be too much longer until I can get away for the weekend and forget about you indigents.
As we are on the verge of the release this Friday of the July jobs report, I now present my findings. Following intense research this past week, burning the midnight oil, with pen in hand and ledger on desk I have concluded the following:
At best the jobs gains of July will range from 50to 75,000. I give this scenario a 20 % probability.
The other end of the spectrum is no job growth at all for July. I give this scenario a 15% probability.
However, the most likely scenario is a job growth of 20 to 40,000 jobs for the month of July. I give this scenario a 64% probability.
The remaining 1% includes an outstanding jobs gain report…which would all but ensure the President’s road to re-election.
As even you ingrates know, this economy is in the tank and has been ever since the current Administration tied handcuffs around the entrepreneurial wrists of corporate America, which is the backbone of the nation. And we wonder why we are where we are????????
In August of 1981 on his ranch in the Simi Valley of California, Pres. Ronald Wilson Reagan signed into law a 30% across the board tax cut. It took over a year afterwards for the economy to react in view of the damage the Carter Administration had leveled on it, but what a recovery it was!!!! Just 3 short years later Reagan won re-election by taking 49 STATES in the electoral college!!! And the Conservative revolution was forever cemented in our national psyche. When Reagan attended the annual economic summit in Europe in 1986, leaders came around him as if he were a Christ-like figure and asked, “Tell us about the American miracle.”
Well, students, it has been a long time since we have seen any miracles on these shores. I miss Ronald Reagan. But I see great hope and potential in Willard Mitt Romney as he possesses that very insight and can-do attitude that made this nation an economic mastodon. I only hope we can avoid further damage before he takes office next January 20th.
I shall not be present for classes until next Tuesday, by the way (you may applaud if you like). I am heading down South for some seminars. I plan on taking in a few holes of golf and discussing the health care situation with some health care industry friends of mine. I shall fill you all in when I return. Until then……
Class Dismissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the past several years I have paid Blue Cross over $600.00 per month. Pre existing conditions etc,
but I'm in fairly good health overall. The other day I attended a seminar put on in part by BC and I got a pen. The Blue Cross promotional pen writes in black ink. I was surprised and disappointed by the brain trust at BC! The pen should write in Blue Ink, you morons. Now I'm worried about how much common sense is on the table at Blue Cross. Maybe it should be Black Cross?
Pete
IN RESPONSE
For the past several years I have paid Blue Cross over $600.00 per month. Pre existing conditions etc,
but I'm in fairly good health overall. The other day I attended a seminar put on in part by BC and I got a pen. The Blue Cross promotional pen writes in black ink. I was surprised and disappointed by the brain trust at BC! The pen should write in Blue Ink, you morons. Now I'm worried about how much common sense is on the table at Blue Cross. Maybe it should be Black Cross?
THAT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME A BIT. LET ME PREFACE THIS STATEMENT BY SAYING THAT I TRULY ENJOYED WORKING AT BLUE CROSS. I FELT LIKE I WAS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR THE CUSTOMERS THERE. AND WHEN I GOT LAID OFF, I WAS TREATED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL WITH BENEFITS TO RETRAIN MYSELF AND THE LIKE. ALL THAT SAID, BCNEPA IS NOT CREATIVE AT ALL IN THEIR THOUGHT PROCESSES FOR MARKETING, ADVERTISING OR EVEN RUNNING A DEPARTMENT. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN PUBLIC POSITIONS THERE WHO HAD NO PEOPLE SKILLS WAS TO ME APPALLING. NUANCE AND COORDINATION IN TERMS OF MESSAGING AND PROMOTION IS NOT IN THEIR VOCABULARY. THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE IS REACTIVE INSTEAD OF PROACTIVE. THE "ENTERPRISE" AS THEY CALL IT HAVE A VERY GOOD LEADER AND ADMINISTRATOR IN DENISE CESARE BUT HER SUPPORT STAFF IS HORRIBLE. BUT THE MORE VANILLA AND DOLTISH YOU SEEM THERE, THE BETTER IT IS FOR YOU. AND AS FAR AS THE PENS GO, I MEAN IT'S NOT AS THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND. BUT THAT WOULD TAKE A CREATIVE PERSON WITH ATTENTION TO DETAIL RUNNING THOSE SEMINARS. AND SADLY, IT ISN'T THERE.
Professor,
It seems to me that you have a case of selective memory in your history lesson on former Pres. Reagan. I hope these facts will overcome this problem.
1. Pres. Reagan was a serial tax raiser. As Gov. Of Calif. he signed the into law the largest tax Increase in the history of any state up to that time. He doubled state spending. As president he raised taxes 7 of the 8 years he was in office. All totaled he raised taxes 11 times during his administration.
2. Pres. Reagan almost tripled the federal budget deficit to nearly $ 3 trillion. After the tax cut you praise so much government revenue dropped off so much he had no choice but to raise taxes. Despite 10 other tax hikes on things like gasoline to corporate income he was never able to get the deficit problem solved. This refutes the idea that tax cuts stimulate the economy and creates
jobs.
3. Unemployment rose to 10.8% after his 1981 tax cut. It took years for it to get to the pre tax cut levels. As a result income inequality soared. The wealthy benefited while the middle class and poor were taxed disproportionately.
4. Pres. Reagan grew the size of the Federal Government. He bailed out Social Security, after promising to privatize it, created The Dept. of Veterans Affairs which today has a budget of $90 Billion and 300,000 employees after campaigning to Cut agencies like The Depts. of Energy and Educationand increased military spending by over $100 Billion per year. So much for the idea of shrinking government.
Since your lesson only focused on economic matters I will stop here. If you would like to continue this discussion on Pres. Reagan and topics such as foreign policy, immigration or abortion I will gladly respond.
At least Yonki is showcasing BCNEPA's thoughts and they look like they have a plan. Unlike other health care companies.
The name of Yonki's fourth book: "Burning Bridges".
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