The WELLalarm Blog

Listen to me on Blog Talk Radio!

I will be interviewed on Marketing Moments with Michelle today at noon, ET!

Give Your Valentine a Charmed Life with WELLalarm

With Valentine's Day just over two weeks away we are offering a new coupon! Through February 14 save 10% on everything in the E-store using the coupon code "charmed life."  Of course, a heart charm would make an ideal Valentine's Day gift for the women in your life. The train charm is sooo cute for little boys.

If you are looking for something extra special, WELLcharms come with gemstones, too! Remember, whatever charm you choose comes with WELLalarm's innovative and secure service, so you are giving your loved one more than jewelry--you are giving them peace of mind.

Prescription Drugs Not Affordable for Seven out of Ten Americans

I did a double-take when I read this headline from EmaxHealth. What the--seven out of ten?

Yes. The results of the 2007 national Health Tracking Household Survey were reported in The New York Times. Seven out of ten adults under 65 reported going without their prescriptions because they could not afford to. The study looked at 10,400 adults under the age of 65. Compare this with 2003, when only one in ten adults skipped their medications due to the cost.

Keep in mind, these are results for 2007; I cannot imagine how much worse this has gotten with the recent economic downturn.

Study lead author Laurie E. Felland adds, "Our findings are particularly troublesome given the increased reliance on prescription drugs to treat chronic conditions... People who go without their prescriptions experience worsening health and complications." Take it from me, a person with a chronic condition, I've had a front-row seat to the spiraling cost of prescription drugs. I'm doing all right but it really, truly causes me to worry about my fellow chronically ill Americans! And even though I do not have to chose between eating and taking my meds, the cost still smarts.

Obama's health care reform plan includes "lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market." Here's hoping Secretary Daschle and Congress can make that happen--fast! Will it be enough? (Chart via The New York Times)

Food Allergy Magazine Reviews Allergen-Free Foods In Its Supplements

Hope you all had a fabulous long weekend and enjoyed the Presidential Inauguration! What a week.

Ironically, I find myself looking across the pond with a little envy today. I just read about the new "tasting supplement" in the UK's magazine, Food Matters. (Yes, it's a magazine dedicated to food allergy and intolerance.) This it in conjunction with their Food Allergy and Intolerance Week.

The staff at Food Matters, as well as several other professionals and people with allergies, have tasted over 200 allergen-free foods and will be publishing their results in a series of supplements. The tastings will culminate in the Foods Matter FreeForm Food Awards. Click here to see last year's winners.

Super idea, no? I am sure many of the foods they review are probably not available in the US, and it is sponsored by an allergen-free food company so I am not sure how they sort that out. That said, I still think it is a great idea.

Obama healthcare team gives greenlight to Second Life volunteers!

I found this sooooo interesting. Second Life is one of many forms of social media--in this case, you can create your own virtual world and interact with others in a community. Here the Obama healthcare team is reaching out to people who cannot travel to hear about their healthcare issues in a forum that works best for them. And the administration is calling upon Second Life volunteers to help shape healthcare policy.

This is where our technology is taking us, folks! Fascinating.

Via Gianna Borgnine on Twitter

Nationalized Electronic Medical Records Management by 2014?

I was pleased to hear that Obama wants to make all American's health records standardized and electronic. As an entrepreneur who specializes in cutting-edge electronic medical records management, I am all for harnessing technology to cut costs and improve everyone's wellness! That's why the basic service of WELLalarm is free.

But can Obama really make this happen in five years, as he has planned? Take it from me, this is no easy task even at a small business scale. On a national scale? Well, let's look at the numbers.

• Only 8% of US hospitals and 17% of physicians use electronic records management.
• Independent studies predict it will take the US more like 10 years to implement this plan.
• Studies also estimate it will cost the US $75-100 billion (compare this with the $800 billion stimulus package...).

Much of the cost will come from training a new workforce; right now we do not even have the health technology experts we need to make this happen.

Still, I see a tremendous opportunity for Americans here. If we plan carefully from the start we could have a highly effective health system.

Sanjay Gupta as next Surgeon General

By now we have all heard the news: President-Elect Obama is considering Atlanta neurosurgeon and CNN commentator Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General.

Here's what people are saying about the possible appointment.

Time Magazine (where Gupta is a commentator) thinks he is perfect for the job because he is already an expert at clearly communicating health concerns to the public--the most important aspect of the job.

Jacob Goldstein of the Wall Street Journal agrees for the same reason, saying "There’s a certain logic to picking a TV talking head to be surgeon general, because the surgeon general is largely a talking head."

New York Times commentator Paul Krugman does not think the appointment is a good idea. Krugman's objection is based on an incident in which Gupta told Michael Moore he "fudged his facts" in the movie "Sicko." As it turns out, CNN was in error and Moore was correct on some points.

On the other end of the political spectrum, Newsbusters also opposes the pick because during the presidential campaign, Gupta pointed out that John McCain's released medical records made no mention of his "mental health," or the possibility of "post-traumatic stress disorder" or 'substance abuse."

Get to know Gupta yourself by perusing his CNN blog, Paging Dr. Gupta.

Free Antibiotics at Giant and Stop & Shop

In case you have not heard, Giant and Stop & Shop supermarkets are offering free antibiotics from January through March.

Store executives are spinning it as a recession-minded public service, since according to an October survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 27 percent of people chose not to fill a prescription in order to save money, and 22 percent say they cut pills or skipped doses. Compare this with six months earlier, when 23 percent of respondents reported not filling a prescription, and 19 percent cutting pills or skipping doses.

However, you could also see this as the ultimate loss leader. Low-cost pharmaceuticals can bring in more shoppers, as Wal-Mart found in 2006 when it began offering some 300 generic prescription drugs for $4.00. Consulting firm Willard Bishop reports that pharmacy sales usually comprise about 10 percent of a grocery store's revenue.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial illnesses (like infections). You should not use antibiotics for viral illnesses like the flu and the cold.
• If you do take antibiotics, be sure to take the full course; don't stop when your symptoms stop.

Vote for Me: People's Choice Health Blogger Awards

for Stephanie C. http://wellalarm.com/blog

Good morning, and welcome back from the holidays!

My new year began with an exciting opportunity: a chance to be named in the 100 Best Health Blogs by Wellsphere! Please take a moment to vote for me by clicking on the "vote now" button. Winners will be announced in a few weeks.

Here's to a healthy and WELL New Year for all of you.