First thing is first, try phoning a friend or a loved one. Most people who are single and/or single-minded go it alone but I do recommend bringing someone with you and let them know it is going to be a long, long time before they get to go home. But if you are like me and you had no one on your side then listen up… this is how you can do it if, of course, you are conscious.

1. Call a taxi, do not attempt to drive unless you live in the middle of nowhere.

2. Bring a lot of reading materials, but not heavy ones in case you threw your back out like I did. Also bring pen and paper and write down, if you can, every single test they give you so you can keep track of them.

3. Go slow, try and think about the fact that you have to remember a lot of things before you leave the house and when you get to the ER. So here is a quick list of things you MUST bring with you: Insurance Card, Driver’s License or State ID or Passport; ANY medical reports that are important such as recent x-rays or imaging studies (on a disk); a full list of medications that you are taking; a full list of medications that you are allergic to; and anything you have done that day that could have contributed to the pain you are now seeking relief from. Also be prepared to list out all of your medical conditions.

4. Okay, here is the thing, when you get there, the Emergency Room that is, remember they take the most important cases first, such as heart attack patients so if you are having chest pain don’t be shy… don’t be shy at all! Otherwise go ahead and sign in and be nice… these people who serve the sick in the middle of the night are there to help you and you can help them by giving them anything they need.

5. Once you are registered then the nurse on staff will call you (be prepared to wait) and ask you some questions: this is the time to talk about medications, like the ones that you are taking and the ones you are allergic to. Also, let them know that you are alone right away. You need an advocate and be prepared to be one for yourself!

6. So maybe you get lucky and you are taken into the ER suite of rooms about 2 hours after you get there (this is about the average you will wait on a busy weekend night and don’t be surprised if prisoners, yes I said prisoners, and drunk sick people are taken before you) and remember that the front desk people are on your side so just tell them how you feel and if the pain is getting worse tell them immediately but be calm and explain to them exactly what is going on.

7. Now you are in the room and a resident comes to see you first. They are there to help you just as much as anyone so they are going to ask you a lot of the same questions the nurse first asked you (2 hours ago). Be specific. Never assume they know your history and your medications. Use visuals. Point to the spot that hurts. Tell them how it hurts and tell them exactly how you feel when it hurts, like if you are going to pass out when the pain comes.

8. Now be prepared to wait again. Depending on who is in line in front of you… you are going to be there a while. The quiet time is about 6AM so you may be sitting there until then. Keep your valuables with you/on you at all times. You don’t have anyone helping you so be on guard. If you have to go to the bathroom get up and go. If you need water ask right away. Don’t be shy but don’t bug them. Be specific about you want and need and tell them why. If you feel dehydrated let them know right away. If you need help going to the bathroom then let them know that as well.

9. This is the most important part: If after a few hours of waiting for anything such as test results or tests let them know you do not have a patient advocate and you need them to be your advocate now! You need things to move along especially if there needs to be arrangements made if you are going to be admitted into the hospital. Be specific. If you are still not getting anywhere see if there is a hospital administrator that you can talk with or the doctor in charge. Again, tell them what is going on with you body and that you are your own advocate and you would like things to move along. Be firm, clear and understanding because we are all human.

I had a decent experience but I did see all of the people who came in with someone leave before I did.

If you can bring someone with you then do it. If you are like me then be ready… always be ready… and be specific!

It has been more than 60 days since the President Obama took office and the focus has turned toward from the auto industry to the health of the overall economy. So where does that leave the Obama-Biden healthcare plan? Will there be some movement in this year to begin to solve this healthcare puzzle and start to help the consumer?  Will a new plan provide relief for many people who are losing their jobs or are underinsured—people who have insurance that does not cover their health needs and costs.

You The Consumer

Maybe it is time to start shopping? Should you look at your deductible and see if you can set it at a higher level to save more money monthly or is it a recipe for disaster? These are good questions and here is another: what do you want out of your monthly budget and what do you want from your healthcare provider or insurance company; start writing them down.

The Plan

In the Obama-Biden healthcare plan they talk about lowering costs for each family, the goal is so that health care is better for individuals and businesses not just the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. It also focuses on management and disease prevention. The plan pays attention to public health issues from covering preventive healthcare services to cancer screenings and being more prepared for natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

More To Come

So you may wonder where does this leave you the consumer? There are steps to take to start lowering your costs, including reading your health insurance plan in detail, listing out questions for your benefits administrator in a company or health insurance company or their representative, and see if there are discounts at specific hospitals and pharmacies. In addition, see if there are insurance discounts if you lose weight….

There are additional resources listed at the bottom of the page. You can access these guidelines by typing in “prevent head injuries” into Google or by going to the CDC Web site.

In the HHS General Medicaid brochure “Categorically Needy” and “Medically Needy” are defined. However, not all states have the “Medically Needy” category. A list of mandatory services for the “Categorically Needy” is also provided in this brochure.

Getting to the correct page: At the top of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services there is a contact link and the page does not display a  phone number for Medicaid for individual states; scroll down to the bottom where there is the “Related Links Inside CMS” section and select “Medicaid-List of State Health Departments”. Now choose your state and subtopics… under “Contacts Whose Organization Type Is” select “State Medical Assistance Office” and then click “Show Contacts”, leave all other subtopics alone or at the default setting. A state specific set of information (phone number and Web site) will appear and you can then click to go to the specific state’s Web site.

Once at the State Specific Health Department site there will be specific contact instructions and further information on Medicaid. Again, Medicaid is defined by the Department of HHS and the states determine eligibility.

If we could find the magic diet pill, the best healthy neighborhood and the fountain of youth we may be able to have more affordable health insurance.  Ask your health insurance reperesentative about ways to lower your monthly health insurance costs… they can be your best advocate, just ask the questions.

This could possibly mean both a lot of battles from each side of the debate and the furthering of science.

Barack Obama is our new president and he takes office in a little over two months. During the campaign you heard a lot of talk from Obama and Biden about changing health care but will there be change? How will they really change the healthcare system in the United States?

You The Consumer

When, how, and how will it affect you the consumer and if it does affect you, how will you deal with it financially—possibly getting a new healthcare plan (if you choose), navigating through it, and of course actually using it, and how does any change in health care help you? How will your finances dictate the healthcare plan that you will take or keep?

The Plan

If you look at the Obama-Biden Health Care Planto lower healthcare costs there is a lot of information about finances and the three main areas of change. [You can download the entire plan and read it.] Those areas are: improving technology and patient care by providers from prevention to chronic disease management and increasing competition within the health insurance industry. The Obama-Biden plan also focuses on federal reinsurance for employers, helping them with costs for employees who are facing major illnesses.

More To Come

While the United States is trying to cope with the current economic crisis, will a fundamental change in health care be something that will come quickly, will a sound foundation be laid for the future, or will it be tossed to the side?