Mountain View Medical Supply

Friday, January 27, 2012

Top 10 Worst Hospital Vistor Antics

10. The girlfriend who came to visit her boyfriend with her little girl. She left her daughter with her boyfriend (the patient) while she went shopping.

9. The girlfriend who comes and stays over and thinks what she’s “got” is better than what we’re doing for the boyfriend…wink, wink…ALL NIGHT LONG!

8. Visitors who eat in front of patients who are “NPO” (are unable to eat)!

7. The visitor who came in barefoot and without a bra. “Swinging” the DD “sisters”.

6. The daughter who had a “juicer” and brought in some green stuff she wanted to add to Mama’s tube feeding.

5. The visitor who had a black thong ABOVE her khakis whose butt was aimed at the patients’ door.

4. The friend who snuck in marijuana and alcohol to the trauma patient who was hospitalized because he caused an accident while driving his car the wrong way on a divided road while drunk.

3. The family member who was trying to feed her unconscious family member because it had been hours since he last ate. And he needed nutrition to get better.

2. The significant other who climbed into bed to snuggle with the trauma patient…and then complained of all the pain the patient was in.

1. The family who moved into the patient’s room and CLEANED OUT the patient’s kitchen.

Source: http://scrubsmag.com/top-10-worst-hospital-visitors-part-ii

Friday, January 20, 2012

HME Claims in Round One See Staggering Plunge

Plummets as stiff as 82 percent point to patient access crisis.

By David KopfJan 19, 2012

Medicare claims for HME covered by Round One of competitive bidding dropped by as much as 82 percent during in 2011, according to analysis of Round One data conducted by University of Maryland economist and auction model expert Peter Cramton. At the same time, the risk of death and hospitalization for beneficiaries needing HME spiked sharply.

The sharp drop in claims suggests a dramatic decline in access to care for Medicare beneficiaries living in Round One bidding areas who need home medical equipment and services, according to report on Cramton's data by the American Association of Homecare.

The drop in access runs counter to the claims made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that its competitive bidding program would reduce the number of HME providers without reducing access to care or reducing claims.

Cramton and his colleagues obtained Medicare claims data through a Freedom of Information Act request. CMS has not previously shared this data with AAHomecare or with Congress, according to the association. The association says it has already started alerting congressional offices to these findings and will continue to analyze the information.

Comparing annualized 2011 claims data to 2010 claims, HME items subject to bidding in all Round One areas fell by the following percentages:

Complex rehab: -82.1 percent
CPAP devices: -63.7 percent
Diabetic supplies: -74.1 percent
Enteral nutrition: -65.0 percent
Hospital beds: -63.7 percent
Oxygen: -61.7 percent
Standard power: -81.5 percent
Support surfaces: -73.8 percent
Walkers: -71.5 percent

To determine the findings, Cramton and his colleagues also looked at the increased risk for Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible but not using prescribed HME items, compared to beneficiaries who are using the HME item.
The increased risk of death was 106 percent for non-users of mail-order diabetic supplies. Their risk of hospitalization was 36 percent higher. Non-users of oxygen in the “narrow access group” faced a 79 percent higher risk of death and a 54 percent higher risk of hospitalization compared to Medicare beneficiaries who receive home oxygen therapy.

Professor Cramton will issue more detailed analysis soon, and AAHomecare will provide more information in the days ahead.

"The startling and dramatic numbers from Round One underscore the fact that the current competitive bidding program is dangerously flawed and must be stopped," read a statement from AAHoemcaer. "Congress must include the alternative Market Pricing Program which will achieve market prices without jeopardizing beneficiaries’ health or destroying the HME community."

Friday, January 13, 2012

Body Types: Scrubs That Hide Extra Pounds



by Scrubs, Scrubs Magazine • November 5, 2011

The bounty of the holiday season may not tempt the few, but they are the downfall of the many. From the time you pop your first piece of Halloween candy until your last sip of punch on New Year’s Eve, putting on a few pounds is almost inevitable. Hopefully, your renewed commitment to fitness in January will melt those pounds away again. But maybe you’ll still need a few forgiving scrubs outfits to see you through until then. Here are several styles that can help you hide extra inches in different “problem areas.”



Upper Abdomen
That rich Thanksgiving dinner can leave you looking pretty bloated in the upper abdomen. To avoid awkward questions about a nonexistent due date for your gas baby, choose a top that is gathered at neckline. A round-neck top with smocking will do the trick nicely. Avoid wrap tops and empire-waist tops since these styles just accentuate a bulge in this area



Lower Abdomen
In contrast to the advice above, a mock wrap or an empire-waist top is ideal for concealing your lower tummy. These styles nip in at the smallest portion of your ribcage and flare nicely around your waistline. A top with a vivid, lengthwise pattern adds more camouflage and makes you look slimmer. Choose tops that tie back instead of those with back elastic if you want more precise control over sizing.



Muffin Top
If your pounds tend to hang around just above the waistline of your scrubs, a long top can be your best friend. Look for a tunic top that has a few extra inches at the hemline. One in a dark color is even more forgiving. A three-quarter-length sleeve will also cover up upper arms.















Hips and Thighs
Scrubs pants tend to follow street clothes fashion right now—which is a problem when leggings and flared jeans are all the rage. You need more ease in the hips and thighs if that’s where pumpkin pie and that extra serving of mashed potatoes like to hang out. Look for utility, cargo or straight-leg scrubs. These tend to be less fitted throughout the length of the leg.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Winter Wonderland: Tops for Skiing & Snowboarding

TOP 5 SKI RESORTS WESTERN US
Vail, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
Alta, Utah
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Snowbird, Utah

TOP 5 SKI RESORTS EASTERN US
Stowe, Vermont
Lake Placid, New York
Smugglers’Notch, VT
Mt.Washington, NH
Burke Mountain, Vermont

TOP 5 SKI RESORTS for BEGINNERS
Buttermilk, Colorado
Bretton Woods, NH
Sunday River, Maine
Sorthstar/Tahoe, California
Solitude, Utah

TOP 5 SKI RESORTS for Snowboarding
Mammoth Mtn, California
Breckenridge, Colorado
Park City, Utah
Big Bear Lake, California
Mt Bachelor Bend, Oregon

TOP 5 SKI RESORTS Black-Diamond Trails
Teton Village, Wyoming
Squaw Valley, California
Taos, New Mexico
Crested Butte, Colorado
Stowe, Vermont

TOP 5 SKI RESORTS for FAMILIES
Smugglers Notch, VT
Snowmass, Colorado
Northstar/Tahoe, CA
Winter Park, Colorado
Okemo, Vermont

TOP 5 SKI RESORTS Best Off-Trail Skiing
Squaw Valley, California
Alta/Snowbird, Utah
Teton Village, Wyoming
Mammoth Mtn, California
Mount Marcy, New York

TOP 5 SKI RESORTS for SINGLES
Vail, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
Mtn Creek Ski Resort, NJ
Winter Park, Colorado
Stowe, Vermont

Source: www.americasbestonline.net

Monday, January 2, 2012

The Right Exercises for Seniors

By: Mike Myers, SeniorsList.com

Senior fitness requires exercise, but it must be the correct exercise. If seniors exercise incorrectly they can cause great harm. Here are the right exercises for seniors.

There are four basic components of correct exercise for seniors that will lead to healthy living: cardio, strength, flexibility and balance. There is a fifth component which leads to healthy living, even though its not exercise, but it is worth mentioning here. That is a regular diet of the right foods, eating lots of fruits and vegetables with lean meat, grains and dairy.

Cardio Training - For cardio training you need an activity that increases the heart rate. Good exercises that are appropriate for seniors include: walking, swimming and bike riding. Becoming involved in this form of exercise three or more times per week is essential.

Strength Exercise - Strength building exercises are also important for seniors. As we age our muscles slowly begin to decline in their size. The more a muscle is not used the more it will shrink. As a senior it is important to exercise with light weights a few times each week to keep muscles strong.
For weight training, seniors can buy weights at various stores, and the best are those made of rubber because they are less damaging should they be dropped.

Flexibility and Stretching Exercise - For good posture and healthy joints it is important for seniors to undertake a few minutes each day or every other day a regime of stretching exercises. Exercises that involve stretching help keep the body flexible.

Balance Exercises - Finally, it is necessary for seniors to do some sort of balance exercises. This is an area of exercise that is often overlooked, yet very important. Slip and fall accidents are the number one category of injury for the elderly. The reason is because as we age we also lose our sense of balance and become more vulnerable to falling. By doing balance exercises this will help prevent fall accidents.

As with any exercise activity, especially as a senior, it will be critical to consult with your physician first before anything is started. Exercises must be done right and include all four of the mentioned components, if allowable. Take your proposed exercise plan with you to your next appointment!