Emergency Medicine Physicians (EMP), one of the country’s largest physician- owned and led emergency medicine groups, is bringing the mobile technology of iTriage® to its hospital clients. The partnership will enable consumers to conveniently access critical medical information and locate the closest EMP-staffed emergency departments and hospitals.   EMP Chief Executive Officer Dominic J. [...] Read More »

Last year Health Affairs contributors analyzed data from a 2010 HealthStyles survey, and found that 26% of parents surveyed thought that “The ingredients in vaccines are unsafe.” While child immunization rates remain high, there is a growing concern among many health professionals that parents aren’t taking vaccinations seriously. A report issued by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor found [...] Read More »

While some people view the pursuit of health goals as an individual process, many people’s success depends on the support of their loved ones. In order to help a family member, friend or significant other lose weight, Ramani Durvasula, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at California State University in Los Angeles, offers the following tips: Get on Board: Words of [...] Read More »

97% of people living with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that damages the lining of the small intestine, don’t even know they have it according to the The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). Celiac disease affects an estimated 3 million Americans and, if left untreated, can have serious long-term consequences including anemia, infertility, osteoporosis, weight loss, hair loss, [...] Read More »

In October of 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that stated that American antidepressant use had increased by 400% from 1988 to 2008. The report found that one in twelve Americans over the age of twelve is taking antidepressants to treat depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. Many saw the meteoric increase of antidepressant use as a sign of a weak economy, [...] Read More »

In October of 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggested that children as young as four should be screened for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a mental condition characterized by “difficulty staying focused and paying attention,” and “difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The new AAP guidelines [...] Read More »

When you sprain an ankle or find a suspicious rash on your arm, where do you go, an emergency department or an urgent care? More and more people are opting for urgent cares, where treatment for non-life threatening illness is often cheaper, faster and more convenient than the medical care provided by an emergency department. At an urgent care, you can get evaluated and treated for sprains, fractures, [...] Read More »

The month of January has been National Blood Donor Month since 1970.  Increased awareness of this selfless act is escalated during the winter months because the healthcare industry has a short supply of blood products due to the cold weather, holiday travel, and illnesses. 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion each year, which means that a blood transfusion occurs every 2 seconds.  [...] Read More »

As we enter Folic Acid Awareness Week (January 8-14), The National Council on Folic Acid and other organizations want to remind pregnant women exactly how their diet affects their unborn child. While alcohol and cigarettes are well-known no-nos, the importance of taking the recommended daily dose of 400mcg of folic acid may not be so obvious. But it should be. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps [...] Read More »

The United States has an overall literacy rate of 99%, according to the CIA Factbook, but a health literacy rate of only 12% according to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy. In addition, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, roughly nine out of ten Americans are not “health literate.” Health literacy is a term that describes “the degree to which individuals have [...] Read More »