Category: Medical

What is a Medical Coder

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The medical coding career is indispensable to the health care industry. A medical coders job is to report services and products provided by health care providers (such as doctors offices, hospitals, etc) to the health insurer of the patient. It is necessary to report this data in a very organized and specific manner. This is why it is important for the coder to have some sort of medical coding training.

With medicine not always being an exact science, medical coding gives it a way to be more cut and dry. In an attempt to make it more exact, the coder will convert the doctors notes, laboratory tests, requested imaging studies, and other tests into code that is usable and understood by the health insurance companies. It is vital that the medical coding specialist know enough about anatomy and medical terminology to be able to convert these notes into code. It is also vital that the coder be familiar with different types of insurance policies and companies, as the protocol of coding will be slightly different for every company and policy.

The codes used are very important for multiple reasons. One reason being that in order for there to be a system that health insurance companies can comprehend, there has to be a set standard. With this set standard they can then charge the appropriate amount to the patient and to the health care provider. Along with this responsibility, a coder may also have the responsibility to be an advocate for the care provider and patient in times that the patient requires necessary medical assistance. If the claim submitted by the coder is denied by the insurance company, it is also their job to re-file and audit those appeals.

Another reason the codes are important is because the data will eventually be used by both local and federal government for research. As a medical coder your job will help governments and researchers develop treatments for conditions that may not have enough information to make accurate conclusions on yet.

Medical coding is a profession that is absolutely vital to the health industry, because ultimately it cannot survive without someone handling the finances. The demand for jobs in the medical coding field seems to be increasing, along with the average salary which is strong despite the countries current financial uncertainty.

Make right choice to travel abroad for medical treatment

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In February, Jonathan Reeder had never heard of medical tourism. But today, he sings praises to one such medical tourism company WorldMedAssist.com for finding him an affordable option for the prostate surgery he needed.

Reeder knew when he left his dental practice in Houston to do dental contract work, hed either need to self-insure or find an affordable private pay policy. While researching his options, he got alarming news from his doctor: his PSA test results had soared from an alert-level 5 to alarm-level 8. This put him into the dreaded category of “pre-existing condition,” and therefore uninsurable.

When his biopsy came back positive for prostate cancer in February, he had three alternatives: watch and wait, radiation, or surgery. Wanting to get this behind him as quickly as possible, he chose surgery. Then came more bad news: The surgeons fee alone would cost $36,000. “Who knows what the total would have been by the time you add in hospital fees, anesthesiologist, tests, but probably around $50,000.” Reeder said.

His wife remembered an article theyd both read in AARP Magazine about medical tourism a few years earlier. Searching online under medical tourism, he found several companies offering to coordinate all details of his radical prostatectomy.

“Some websites were clumsy, some people I contacted were too aggressive, some had such broken English I couldnt understand them,” Reeder recalled. “I finally landed on www.WorldMedAssist.com. I got in touch with Wouter Hoeberechts, the CEO, who did a lot of research on my options, hoping we could find a place that would do laparoscopic surgery using a robotic arm. Turns out, this was not an option for me.”

WorldMed Assist hunted for the best doctor and the best hospital for Reeders open surgery. Ultimately, WorldMed Assist was able to offer the best cost with the best doctor at the best hospital in Hyderabad, India. When WorldMed Assist told Reeder his trip to India would cost $7,500, including all his medical expenses, travel and hotel, the deal was sealed in Reeders mind. But Hoeberechts urged him first to have his own physicians weigh in on the choice.

“Both my family physician and urologist checked out WorldMed Assists recommendation, and both agreed this was a good choice,” Reeder said. “The doctor is UK board certified, had a stellar reputation. I have a lot of friends and relatives whose U.S. physicians are from India, so I wasnt at all nervous about my decision I knew India had a reputation for high quality medicine, and I learned that Apollo Hospital was affiliated with Johns Hopkins.”

The surgery was scheduled for May 9. “All I had to do was make the payment, book my travel and get on the plane. WorldMed Assists travel agency partner, Carson Wagonlit, got me a great fare, with good connections,” Reeder said. “WorldMed Assist set up phone consultations with my doctor in India and transferred my medical records. All I had to do was show up.”

When he arrived at Indias Hyderabad airport, he was met by an executive team, who shuttled him directly to Apollo, showed him to his room, and told him to rest up for a two-day battery of pre-op tests that would begin the next morning. “I didnt have any medical procedures that first night, and they didnt even charge me for the room!” he said.

The thoroughness of the pre-op work amazed Reeder. “Besides the typical tests, they did an MRI and a bone scan, plus put me on the treadmill to make sure my heart would take the surgery. This was all included in my $7500 bill. Imagine how many lines of additional charges would have been on my bill if I were doing this in the U.S.”

His surgery lasted two hours and forty minutes, then off to spend the night in the trauma intensive care unit. “Since my wife wasnt able to go to India with me, Wouter called her at least four times during the 24 hours following my surgery,” he said. “He stayed on top of all the details, and relayed progress reports so shed know whether I was coming home or if she could collect on my life insurance,” he said with a grin.

Reeder was discharged after three days. “Looking into the big brown eyes of nurses with such beautiful skin must be why I recovered so fast,” he smirked.

After his discharge, Reeder had a week to tour Hyderabad before returning to Apollo to have his staples removed. The one thing he wanted most to see was a sacred cow. He didnt have to look far. “Cows walked down the middle of the road, creating chaotic traffic. No one wanted to hit a cow, so traffic would come to a complete stop, waiting for the cows to determine their course.”

Reeders experience in India turned him into a devoted fan of medical tourism. “As a dentist, I have more familiarity with the medical system than the average American. Given my situation of no insurance, I made the right choice going to India. WorldMed Assist made it all so easy. Everything was turnkey and flawless, and the medical care was excellent.” he said.

Carson, CA Medical Marijuana – Following the Medical Marijuana Laws

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A Carson, CA medical marijuana collective will provide you with an opportunity to buy medical marijuana legally when visiting or living in Carson, California. Carson can be found in Los Angeles in Southern California. The area is most known for being the home to the Home Depot Center, which is the stadium where the top level soccer teams in Los Angeles all play. These are Chivas USA, the Los Angeles Sol and LA Galaxy. Carson is not a very large city in Los Angeles County, but it is still well worth visiting for people who are interested in soccer.

In the state of California, it is legally possible to use marijuana for medical purposes. Because marijuana is considered to be a Schedule I drug, however, there is a very specific way that patients have to acquire the medical marijuana. You cannot simply visit a doctor and ask for a prescription, nor can you buy medical marijuana through a pharmacy. Instead, you need to acquire special permission and an appropriate identification card so that you can visit a Carson, CA medical marijuana dispensary or collective. Dispensaries are special establishments that are legally allowed to sell marijuana for medicinal purposes.

In the state of California, the legislation surrounding medical marijuana usage is considered to be the most compassionate and most comprehensive. There are a lot of protections in place for individuals who have medical permission to acquire and use marijuana as well as the collectives, cooperatives and dispensaries that sell the marijuana. The key to utilizing this legislation properly is to follow all of the states laws when it comes to marijuana. When you visit a Carson, CA medical marijuana dispensary, it is vitally essential that you follow all rules and regulations and present the proper identification at all times.

Observing the laws surrounding California medical marijuana is absolutely essential. There are a number of specific laws that you are going to be bound to follow when you use medical marijuana, even if you have legal and medical permission to use it. For example, you cannot use marijuana within 1000 feet of an educational institution or in areas where other forms of smoking are prohibited. If you are unsure about the laws surrounding medical marijuana usage in your specific area, talk to one of the staff members of your local Carson, CA medical marijuana dispensary and you will be able to get some of the guidance that you need.

National Medical Search Group Top Registered Nurse Staffing And Employment Services

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With the assistance of National Medical Search Group and its comprehensive employment services its never been easier to find a fantastic job in the medical industry or employ qualified workers for any practice. The company offers an unparalleled solution for registered nurse staffing, professional placement and more, allowing both medical institutions and job seekers the ability to conveniently access a massive directory of institutions and individuals applicable for their requirements.

National Medical Search Group was established in order to make the hiring and placement of qualified medical professionals as simple as possible. Offering staffing services for job hunters and hiring businesses alike, National Medical Search Group acts as an unparalleled hub for the medical industry. Its strict screening of every candidate and facility ensures the safest and most reliable solution to staffing needs. National Medical Search Group also enjoys access to over 1,000 recruiting offices across the nation, a fact that leads to additional support for its registered nurse staffing services and more.

Registered nurse staffing is incredibly simple through National Medical Search Group, the service allowing for the easy location and hiring of professional RNs from a large number of suitable candidates. Medical institutions can benefit from a completely risk-free service with the companys registered nurse staffing, knowing that National Medical Search Group has already provided thorough checks for every RNs references or certifications. A large body of RNs is always available at National Medical Search Group, making it the ideal resource for any companys registered nurse staffing requirements.

The National Medical Search Group system makes finding the right job an easy task for registered nurses as well. The sites consistent ability to provide employers with opportunities for hiring great new personnel has led to constant attention from the nations premier medical institutions, making National Medical Search Group one of the first stops for their registered nurse staffing purposes. RNs with resumes listed at the directory enjoy fantastic visibility and a high chance of being contacted by one of National Medical Search Groups list of medical facility clients interested in registered nurse staffing. With National Medical Search Group, registered nurses and other professionals can easily get in touch with quality facilities, starting a new job perfectly suited to their skills.

Visit National Medical Search Group to begin browsing its comprehensive directory of medical professionals and hiring companies. There is no cost involved with use of the service and users can be assured that they are using their time well, knowing that the hiring company is able to promise a great new addition to any medical team. National Medical Search Groups listings are always growing as more professionals and medical institutions become aware of its unparalleled staffing service, a fact that makes it a consistently excellent choice.

Hire from National Medical Search Groups qualified registered nurse staffing directory or begin looking for a new position at one of the nations premier facilities today. The proven results offered by National Medical Search Group have created countless, successful matches between medical businesses and trained professionals for years, continuously providing the premier staffing resource in the industry.

For more information on National Medical Search Group and its registered nurse staffing, visit NationalMedicalSearch.

All about medical exams

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When it comes to writing insurance policies, the decision is all about risk. Based on what you tell the insurer, the actuaries estimate the chances you will have an accident the next time you drive, or that your home will be flattened by a tornado, or that you will catch the H1N1 brand of influenza. It’s the most scientific form of gambling our society has been able to develop. If all the sums work out right, you are protected financially should any of the risks occur and the insurer will make a profit. So when it comes to insuring your life, the actuary needs to call in different professionals. Although you may give completely honest answers to questions about your own health and the health of your immediately family, there are many things you do not know. Sometimes, families are not honest with each other when it comes to health problems. Sometimes, you may not have been to see a doctor recently and so be unaware your own health is less than good. To protect everyone, a medical examination will usually be a condition when the amount of cover requested is high, or you are older, or you admit possible health problems.

Some insurance companies employ paramedicals who can bring a mobile service to your home or office. Others will give you the name of a specific doctor or a clinic and wait for you to make an appointment. Note that, almost without exception, when something more than a token amount of insurance has been requested, no reference will be made to your regular doctor. The insurers only accept evidence from independent medical personnel.

Let’s say you are still young and there are no untoward signs in your own or your family’s history. The exam is likely to be fairly straightforward, going through lists of questions about your current health and lifestyle. In this remember you may be tested to ensure your answers about not smoking and no abuse of drugs are truthful. If you appear heavier than you admitted on the proposal form, there may be more tests for diabetes and other diseases that can affect the overweight. If you have admitted to health problems, the tests can be fairly intensive if you are older and asking for significant amounts of cover. This is not just measuring pulse rate and blood pressure. You can find yourself supplying a range of samples, submitting to an EKG and getting up on a treadmill to prove lung capacity, stamina and a healthy heart. Only those who pass with flying colors will be offered the larger amount in cover.

In one sense, the whole experience of a medical exam is something of a deterrent. It takes up time and can be intrusive. Yet we have to advise you to go through several exams. The reason is simple. Life insurance companies approach risk assessment in slightly different ways. What some may consider significant is more routine to others. To get the best deal, you have to get as many offers as possible. This means being prepared to go through as many medical exams as it takes. Only when you have all the offered life insurance policies in your hands can you judge which one represents the best deal for you and your family.

Senior Medical Alert Versus Expensive Senior Care Housing Costs

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One of the odd consequences of the real estate crisis in the USA is how it is pushing the cost of senior housing to continue to rise. This happens because, as real estate prices plummet, investors or entrepreneurs or even existing senior care nursing facilities are scared away from building new facilities or conducting expansions. The result is an ever-growing gap between supply and demandwith less new senior housing to accommodate an aging population, it is becoming more and more prohibitively expensive to have your senior loved one stay in an assisted senior care facility.

Discussions regarding the affordability of a senior medical alert inevitably crops up whenever people speak of the financial facts surrounding the issue of nursing homes. This is so because compared with having to place your senior loved one in an assisted living facility, the price of a regular medical alert system is almost shockingly lowyou can subscribe to even the best brand for less than a dollar a day, and that already includes 24/7 monitoring.

Senior Housing: Just the Facts

Perhaps one can best appreciate the whole issue of senior housing by looking at actual numbers. In 2008, for example, the monthly cost of having your senior loved one stay in an independent living housing was $2,572; a year later, in 2009, that figure was up by about a hundred dollars. Moreover, the cost of placing your aging parent in a nursing care home in 2008 was $7,493 a month; barely a year later, the cost would rise by more than two hundred dollars. Keep in mind that we are discussing average monthly rents all over the countryit may be lower or higher in the state you are in, but these averages give you an idea of how much it costs to take care of your senior loved one. If youre lucky, you can find certain facilities that offer discounts or lower monthly fees, but such discounts can be availed usually by signing up on a medium-term basis, such as by paying on a quarterly basis or a six-month plan.

Medical Alerts: the Affordable Option

As previously mentioned, the case against senior housing becomes more and more compelling as prices continue to rise. On the other hand, the monthly fees charged by even the leading providers of any advanced senior medical alert stays at a stable rate of less than a dollar a daysometimes just half of that.

Add to that is the fact that most seniors are still full of heartthey would not simply accept sitting around the house and would often insist on doing things on their own, as if they were still 40 years old. They may insist on mowing the lawn or cleaning the car, and at times, you may even find them on a ladder trimming a tree or cleaning the houses gutter. This is natural: seniors would love to continue doing household chores in order to feel useful. And by preserving their sense of usefulness, you are actually helping them preserve their youth or keep them happy and self-satisfied. But then again, letting them work around the house comes at a price: there are safety and health issues involved, and you cannot simply attend to their needs and watch over them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You have a life and a family who also need your attention.

That is why medical alerts are perfect for a wide range of age bracketswhether your parent is still able to move about and engage in physical activities, or they are using support devices such as a cane or a walker. Not that the price is the be-all and end-all of our considerations, such alert systems do indeed not cost thousands of dollars a monththe alert system service from a leading provider such as Rescue Alert of California costs only about 55 cents a day. Of course, such an alert system is by no means a complete replacement to the kind of round-the-clock, properly supervised care your senior loved one can enjoy at a nursing home, but in certain situations (such as the case described above), it can be just the right solutionand an affordable one, too.

A Complete Description Of Medical Transcription

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What is Medical Transcription?

Medical transcription is the process of converting medical audio-recordings created by health care professionals into their text equivalent. The text documents produced from the audio recordings are then used for different purposes medical or legal purposes.

The Medical Transcription Process

The medical transcription process allows the physicians to take fast and efficient dictated recording of a patients’ record, findings, operations and the physicians’ recommendations without the need to manually write them down. This allows the physicians to proceed to more critical tasks directly related to saving lives and not have to worry about proper documentation.

The Medical Transcriptionist

On the side of the medical transcriptionists, they receive the dictated audio-recordings, listen to it and transcribe it. It’s not as easy as it looks because these recordings are heavily abbreviated and filled with medical terms and description of medical analysis and procedure.

Duties of Medical Transcriptionists

The duty of the medical transcriptionist is to transcribe the audio-recordings completely and correctly. A mistake in certain medical terms can lead to negative health effects to the owners of the medical records being transcribed.

So the medical transcriptionist needs proper background on medical terminologies, processes and procedures along with good language skills particularly in grammar and punctuation.

Technology and Medical Transcription

The medical transcription industry benefits a lot from the internet and related technology improvements. This is because data exchange is now much faster between the medical transcriptionists and the consumer of information that includes Doctors, record section of hospitals, insurance agencies and the patients themselves.

In fact the internet is a very efficient platform for medical transcriptionists. Through the internet, medical transcriptionists can receive audio-recordings and send the transcripts of the recordings anywhere in the globe as long as internet connection is available. Doctors on far-flung clinics can have their patients’ audio recording sent to medical transcriptionists in the city and retrieve the information as soon as it’s done without having the need to travel. This allows Doctors more time to focus on their patients and other critical tasks they need to do.

The Medical Transcription Industry Is Growing

Recently, the US labor statistics released a report predicting the further growth of the medical transcription industry. It said that the biggest growth will be experienced by the home-based service providers. This isn’t surprising, considering that technology is making data transmission and retrieval fast and efficient. It only makes sense that in the coming years a lot of medical transcription jobs will be outsourced to work-at-home service providers.

But what is causing the growth? Sad to say that the increase in health care service demand is driving the growth of this allied health service. Remember, the more patients require medical care, the more information will be required to be transcribed. This is the reason why there is an increasing demand for this service.

The professionals in this industry are lucky because it means there will be continuous growth and long term job security in this sector.

Medical Transcription Certificate

Clearly, proper training is required for those who want to start a career as a medical transcriptionist. The proper training must include not only language training but a comprehensive background on medical terminologies, punctuations and procedures and on physiology as well. Most training programs will allow students to take a certification exam at the end of the course, and it’s ideal to take it. However, at present a medical transcription certificate is not an enforced requirement when applying for a job as a medical transcriptionist.

Reasons you should attend Medical Assistant School in Miami

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There is a lot to think about when trying to figure out what career path you want to choose, especially when you have your own family. The years and money that go into earning a degree can sometimes be overwhelming. If the idea of working in the medical field has been a dream of yours for quite some time, medical assistant school may be a great place to start. The following are some of the top reasons to become a medical assistant:

1. You will be certified in less than two years

When becoming a medical assistant, there are two different paths you may choose. You can either get a medical assisting diploma or degree. Both programs will certify you to work as one of them, but the biggest difference between the two is the amount of time you attend school. A diploma can be earned in as few as 15 months, while an associate’s degree would take as little as 19 months. Most individuals that go for the associate degree value the time spent in the additional 30 credits that will help them prepare for the certification exam.

2. Job Growth is above-average

The average projected job growth for most jobs is expected to increase at a rate of 11 percent through 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the job growth for this career is estimated to increase at 29 percent that same year. That rate of growth is much faster than the average. This means the demand for these professionals will be up the roof.

3. Career stability

Just as with doctors, physicians, and nurses, there is a need for medical assistants every hour of every day. Unlike other careers, the medical field just can’t take breaks. There are always patients that need your help. You will no longer have to scramble for extra shifts or compete with your coworkers for more hours. There will always be a need for medical assistants.

4. Job flexibility

The skills that a medical assistant possesses are always needed in clinics and hospitals all over the country. This means if you’re considering moving to a new state for personal reasons, finding a job wherever you end up won’t be a problem.

5. You may work in different settings

You will have the opportunity to work in the environment that makes you feel most comfortable. Medical assistants are needed in hospitals, clinics, private practices, and in ambulatory care.

National Medical Search Group – A Physician Recruiter With A National Network

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Though generally distressing, an economic recession can open windows of opportunity for an optimist. Some people might woefully bow to an economic downturn but a great many will see, instead, great chance to pursue a new position or career. When times become a little tough, some healthcare industry workers keep their eyes open for the right set of circumstances that could propel them into a new venture or practice. Employers in the healthcare industry would do well to seize upon this opportunity to recruit new employees.

National Medical Search Group is an agency that specializes in connecting talented medical professionals with successful medical employers. Networking with over 1000 medical recruiting offices across the United States, National Medical Search Group is a physician recruiter that yields appreciable results for its employer clients. Their well-trained and knowledgeable recruiting team have the skills to be able to efficiently interview and screen medical professionals, validate licenses and certifications, and conduct professional reference checks. After a recruiting drive to fill a temporary staffing gap or a permanent position, National Medical Search Group produces a short-list of highly qualified and available candidates.

Beyond their specialty as physician recruiters, National Medical Search Group also researches, screens and places skilled workers in various healthcare fields, including Healthcare IT, Nurses and Nurse Executives, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. Their expert team of recruiters maintain connections across all these fields so as to be able to draw upon valuable pools of resources as positions become available. Without such a broad, national reservoir of talent from which to draw, even an exceptional employer would be challenged to find precisely the right person to fill a role.

As a physician recruiter, National Medical Search Group also partners well with Human Resources departments. Rather than expending time and money to laboriously find medical professionals available for hire, an HR department can make use of the extensive resources and expertise of the National Medical Search Group team to conduct the legwork and compile a list of potential candidates. The recruiting team contacts existing leads seeking interest and referrals; they utilize social networking sites, blogs, directories, and associations to generate leads; they make hundreds of cold calls to qualified leads to draw out the best talent available to fill a medical position. Whether seeking a permanent hire, a short-term staffer or a contingency solution, National Medical Search Group can fill the position.

National Medical Search Group prides itself on its commitment to employer and candidate privacy. No information is shared with other parties without the express consent to do so. National Medical Search Group is also proud to be members or affiliates with several ethnic groups and associations so as to ensure the diversity of their talent resources. A diverse and inclusive workplace is the cornerstone of business growth, and National Medical Search Groups physician recruiting practices reflect this maxim.

For more information or to find out how to place a job order visit NationalMedicalSearch.

Medical Alert Systems and In Home Care Can Combat Rising Healthcare Costs

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A medical alert system can bring children of aging parents the peace of mind of knowing that their parents, who may live alone, can reach help if they experience a fall or other accident. The most common reason for purchasing a medical alert is wanting to make sure that an elderly loved one who is generally able to live independently is able to reach help when they need it. But can this tool for independent living also be a weapon in the fight against rising healthcare costs in the United States?

The population of the United States includes 39 million individuals over the age of 65 as of 2008, and by the year 2030, this number is expected to skyrocket to 72 million, as “Baby Boomers” reach the age of 65.

So, the aging population is growing. The individuals of the “baby boom” generation are reaching senior age, causing the senior population to increase dramatically. Not only that, but healthcare advances have allowed people to live longer; there are many more people reaching their 80s, 90s and even past 100. Those who reach these ages are, on average, suffering a large number of physical ailments and as a consequence, they consistently incur high medical expenses.

More seniors, fighting more physical ailments means a higher healthcare cost amongst our increasingly senior population. In fact, by the year 2030, health care for seniors is predicted to account for 25% of all the nations health care expenditures.

This is where a medical alert system can help. The price of equipment rental and monitoring can be less than $1 per day; a long hospital stay costs much more than that. The longer a senior waits to receive help after a fall, the more complications they will experience.

If a senior citizen falls, and is unable to summon help within the first hour, they are extremely likely to lose their independence, and most in this situation are ultimately placed in nursing homes.

With a medical alert system, an individual can get quick help, which often eliminates the need for a lengthy hospital stay, and prevents seniors from experiencing complications from their fall that land them permanently in a nursing home or care facility.

In conjunction with in-home care provided either by a professional service or a member of the seniors family, a medical alert system can keep an elderly individual out of a hospital, out of a nursing home, and can extend the amount of time in which he or she can live at home safely.

The average cost of nursing homes can top an average pricetag of $83,585/year, or $229/day. A medical alert system rental and monthly monitoring service costs less than $1/day.

While the rapidly rising population of seniors in the United States as well as recent changes to Medicare almost certainly guarantee a drastic spike in healthcare costs, this increase can be slowed. Preventative measures are the key to lowering healthcare costs in the United States, as it decreases the amount of costly emergency care and the many expenditures that come when an individual is no longer able to live in their homes.

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