The future of medicine is management of chronic disease.
* In 2000, it was estimated that 125 million Americans had 1 or more chronic medical condition.
* This number is expected to increase to 157 million by 2020.[1]
* Moreover, about 60 million have multiple chronic illnesses, a number that could rise to 81 million by 2020.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Are YOU prepared for Chronic Disease Self-Management? Assessment Tool
Self-Efficacy has been defined as the ability to "self-manage" your own symptoms toward maximizing your quality of life. It assumes that:
1) You HONESTLY know you body and yourself and your symptom impairments and are willing to partner with your health care team to identify, use and maintain whatever "intervention mechanisms" determined for your particular symptom (i.e., medication, exercise, rest, etc.).
2) You are willing to know what you can and cannot do and are willing to seek assistance when necessary.
If you want to determine if you ready for Chronic Disease Self-Management, please consider taking this test from the Stanford Patient Education Research Center on "Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy":
http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/research/secd32.html
1) You HONESTLY know you body and yourself and your symptom impairments and are willing to partner with your health care team to identify, use and maintain whatever "intervention mechanisms" determined for your particular symptom (i.e., medication, exercise, rest, etc.).
2) You are willing to know what you can and cannot do and are willing to seek assistance when necessary.
If you want to determine if you ready for Chronic Disease Self-Management, please consider taking this test from the Stanford Patient Education Research Center on "Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy":
http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/research/secd32.html
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Ask ? of Master MS Neuros; See Archived ?
Ever want to ask a question of Experts about MS? Here is your opportunity!
Now, the site is targeted for clinicians, but I - as an MS person and a Disability Advocate - found lots of info in the Archives section; that link is below.
"If You Could Ask a Question of One of the Top Experts in Multiple Sclerosis, What Would You Ask?
Now you have that chance, with MastersofMS.com.
http://www.mastersofms.com/archives-topic.php#jump09
More information has been published about multiple sclerosis (MS) in the past decade than in the entire history of medical literature. Clinical practices even a few years out of date may not be in the best interest of our MS patients. But it’s nearly impossible to keep up with all the advances, much less apply them in a disease that varies greatly among patients.
That’s why we created MastersofMS.com. This website is a forum for specialists with the latest expertise on MS to share their knowledge with you, the MS clinician. It’s simple: register for the site, enter your question, and our experts will address it directly. Or browse the archived topics on the site."
Link to MastersofMS.com Archives section:
http://www.mastersofms.com/archives.php
I particularly liked the info about MS Symptoms!
Now, the site is targeted for clinicians, but I - as an MS person and a Disability Advocate - found lots of info in the Archives section; that link is below.
"If You Could Ask a Question of One of the Top Experts in Multiple Sclerosis, What Would You Ask?
Now you have that chance, with MastersofMS.com.
http://www.mastersofms.com/archives-topic.php#jump09
More information has been published about multiple sclerosis (MS) in the past decade than in the entire history of medical literature. Clinical practices even a few years out of date may not be in the best interest of our MS patients. But it’s nearly impossible to keep up with all the advances, much less apply them in a disease that varies greatly among patients.
That’s why we created MastersofMS.com. This website is a forum for specialists with the latest expertise on MS to share their knowledge with you, the MS clinician. It’s simple: register for the site, enter your question, and our experts will address it directly. Or browse the archived topics on the site."
Link to MastersofMS.com Archives section:
http://www.mastersofms.com/archives.php
I particularly liked the info about MS Symptoms!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
FREE Mayo Clinic Family Health Management web link
The Mayo Clinic has a fabulous FREE Family Health Management web link. You can even ask for assistance! I highly recommend using this web link as a way of documenting and managing your health and that of your family.
https://healthmanager.mayoclinic.com/default.aspx
https://healthmanager.mayoclinic.com/default.aspx
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Expert Patient AKA Chronic Disease Self-Manager
I often get emails from newly diagnosed folks who are overwhelmed with their diagnosis of a "chronic disease". They feel at a loss over how to best interact with their doctors, family and friends.
Research is very clear that becoming an "Expert Patient" as they are called in the UK or a "Chronic Disease Self-Manager" as we call them here in the US is the absolute best way to maximize your effectiveness in "managing" your chronic disease.
The better YOU can articulate your symptoms and IN GREAT SPECIFICITY document how they impair your normal daily living activities, the better you can become an "Expert Patient" and partner with your dr on the best "intervention mechanisms" to improve the quality of your life.
If you email me I can send you a free ebooklet that I recently did that gives you advice about becoming your own Self-Advocate - EP - or, as we call the person here in the US - A "Chronic Disease Self-Manager".
Here's a UK definition of EP that I recently found.
"An observation often made by doctors, nurses and other health professionals who undertake long-term follow-up and care of people with particular chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, arthritis or epilepsy is 'my patient understands their disease better than I do.' This knowledge and experience held by the patient has for too long been an untapped resource. Research and practical experience in North America and Britain are showing that [b]today's patients with chronic diseases need not be mere recipients of care. They can become key decision-makers in the treatment process[/b]. By ensuring that knowledge of their condition is developed to a point where they are empowered to take some responsibility for its management and work in partnership with their health and social care providers, patients can be given greater control over their lives. Self-management programmes can be specifically designed to reduce the severity of symptoms and improve confidence, resourcefulness and self-efficacy."
Note: bold not part of citation; added for emphasis only.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4006801
Here is an Outstanding website resource that has an excellent article about becoming an "Expert Patient".
http://www.disabled-world.com/health/chronic-disease-management.php
The key idea to keep in mind is that the more you know what is going on with you the better you can help your health care team come up with ways to increase your quality of life.
Research is very clear that becoming an "Expert Patient" as they are called in the UK or a "Chronic Disease Self-Manager" as we call them here in the US is the absolute best way to maximize your effectiveness in "managing" your chronic disease.
The better YOU can articulate your symptoms and IN GREAT SPECIFICITY document how they impair your normal daily living activities, the better you can become an "Expert Patient" and partner with your dr on the best "intervention mechanisms" to improve the quality of your life.
If you email me I can send you a free ebooklet that I recently did that gives you advice about becoming your own Self-Advocate - EP - or, as we call the person here in the US - A "Chronic Disease Self-Manager".
Here's a UK definition of EP that I recently found.
"An observation often made by doctors, nurses and other health professionals who undertake long-term follow-up and care of people with particular chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, arthritis or epilepsy is 'my patient understands their disease better than I do.' This knowledge and experience held by the patient has for too long been an untapped resource. Research and practical experience in North America and Britain are showing that [b]today's patients with chronic diseases need not be mere recipients of care. They can become key decision-makers in the treatment process[/b]. By ensuring that knowledge of their condition is developed to a point where they are empowered to take some responsibility for its management and work in partnership with their health and social care providers, patients can be given greater control over their lives. Self-management programmes can be specifically designed to reduce the severity of symptoms and improve confidence, resourcefulness and self-efficacy."
Note: bold not part of citation; added for emphasis only.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4006801
Here is an Outstanding website resource that has an excellent article about becoming an "Expert Patient".
http://www.disabled-world.com/health/chronic-disease-management.php
The key idea to keep in mind is that the more you know what is going on with you the better you can help your health care team come up with ways to increase your quality of life.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Another DisabilityKey process testamonial
Doing an Internet search, I found another unsolicited testimonial about the success of the Disabilitykey process:
"Very long story short, I was approved for SSDI in February 2009. I firmly believe I was successful because I was completely prepared, as were my doctors. I am very thankful for their help, but I am especially thankful for the help and advice of one very special lady. Her name is Carolyn Magura. I was very blessed to find her on the SSDI message boards at ButYouDontLookSick.com. She gives EXCELLENT advice there and on her own website DisabilityKey and her blog Disability Key Blog. I very highly recommend you check out those sites if you are preparing to file for SSDI or if you have already been turned down. I truly believe they played a HUGE role in my being prepared which led to me being approved so very quickly!"
You too can access the tools to document your symptom impairments and get corroboration from your doctors. Please email me for assistance.
"Very long story short, I was approved for SSDI in February 2009. I firmly believe I was successful because I was completely prepared, as were my doctors. I am very thankful for their help, but I am especially thankful for the help and advice of one very special lady. Her name is Carolyn Magura. I was very blessed to find her on the SSDI message boards at ButYouDontLookSick.com. She gives EXCELLENT advice there and on her own website DisabilityKey and her blog Disability Key Blog. I very highly recommend you check out those sites if you are preparing to file for SSDI or if you have already been turned down. I truly believe they played a HUGE role in my being prepared which led to me being approved so very quickly!"
You too can access the tools to document your symptom impairments and get corroboration from your doctors. Please email me for assistance.
DisabilityKey process even works for Attorneys!!
In case you wonder just who can be successful using the DisabilityKey process, consider the following testimonial from an Attorney for whom we assisted qualify for Long Term Disability (LTD). Oh - by "cost effective" he is referring to the consulting fees wherein his documentation is critiqued for details and specificity.
"I was a litigation attorney whose diabetes worsened preventing me from performing the duties of my occupation. Carol(yn) and her team guided me through the LTD process and documentation. After only a few month my LTD insurer approved me for benefits based upon documents prepared by Carol(yn) and the reports of my tre...ating doctors. I found Carol(yn)'s methodology sound, understandable and cost effective."
"I was a litigation attorney whose diabetes worsened preventing me from performing the duties of my occupation. Carol(yn) and her team guided me through the LTD process and documentation. After only a few month my LTD insurer approved me for benefits based upon documents prepared by Carol(yn) and the reports of my tre...ating doctors. I found Carol(yn)'s methodology sound, understandable and cost effective."
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