Educated patients have known for years that randomly buying their medications from websites they find on Google can be dangerous. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy recently surveyed online pharmacies and found that 97% of them aren’t safe for Americans to order their medication from. Additionally, the past two years has seen an influx of counterfeits into the United States as fake drug wholesalers have begun bombarding small clinics and physicians with direct sales tactics promising unrealistic discounts. Three separate shipments of a fake version of a cancer drug have been found in the United States in the last […]
Tag: Healthcare
Double Check, Don’t Double Up on Medicines Containing Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is the most common drug ingredient in the U.S. and is found in more than 600 different prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, including pain relievers, fever reducers, and sleep aids as well as cough, cold, and allergy medicines. It is safe and effective when used as directed, but taking more than directed is an overdose and can lead to liver damage. Research recently conducted by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance) found that more than half of Hispanic consumers are not aware of any health risks associated with taking too much acetaminophen, and do not check their medicine […]
Volunteers in Medicine: Caring for the Uninsured
Access to Health Care Today, many working individuals in America do not have health insurance and as a result do not have access to quality health care services. Their employers may not provide coverage, or they may earn too little to buy affordable health insurance or earn too much to receive other types of public assistance. These are the “working uninsured” who, in many communities, turn to Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) clinics and other safety-net clinics for access to health care services. Services provided in VIM Clinics VIM clinics provide health care services free of charge. Retired and practicing medical […]
Applying to a Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
Today many Americans find themselves struggling to pay for their medications, unfortunately leading to difficult choices between paying for food, rent, or prescriptions. Luckily pharmaceutical companies and other organizations are aware of this fact, and doing what they can to help alleviate costs for those struggling financially. For many drugs that may seem too expensive to afford there are Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). These programs offer the drugs at little to no cost to the consumer. Finding a Program for your Medication: To apply for a PAP, first make sure one is available for your medication. You can look […]
What to ask your Pediatrician
I understand it’s tough to ask the question “Why?” to your child’s doctor when the she makes a treatment or testing decision. But if you are going to be an active and informed partner in your child’s health care you need to know when to pose that question. I am not suggesting you question every decision the doctor makes, but sometimes it’s appropriate. Here are a few hints as to when you may want to question the doctor. What will happen if I don’t give my child the medicine? This is usually a good question to ask if the […]