Considering Longer Chemotherapy
July 21, 2009 (New York Times) The newest prognosis for cancer may be longer chemotherapy. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies are moving toward treating cancer patients with drugs continuously, even when they may not urgently need them. That would be a departure from the common practice of stopping treatment when the cancer is under control and resuming it only if the cancer worsens.
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Weighing School Backpacks
July 20, 2009 (New York Times) Last year, my daughter’s school backpack got so heavy, she would sometimes just drag it behind her rather than hoist it onto her shoulders. Backpacks with wheels are too bulky for her locker, so next year I’m thinking about buying an extra set of textbooks to keep at home.
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Learning of Risk of Alzheimer’s Seems to Do No Harm
July 16, 2009 (New York Times) A genetic test that can find an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease does no psychological harm to people who take it, even if they test positive for a risky gene, a new study find
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Cancer and Supplements: What Vitamins, Herbs, and Botanicals Can (and Can't) Do
July 14, 2009 (HealthDay News) 5 reasons there aren't a lot of answers—and 4 things you can do until there are
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In Summertime, the Livin' Can Be Buggy
June 23, 2009 (HealthDay News) Physicians group offers advice on tick and mosquito bites. It's nearly summer, which means millions of Americans will be picnicking in grassy fields and camping in the woods.
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Protein In Urine May Lead to Test for Appendicitis
June 23, 2009 (Reuters) A protein in urine could be used as a simple way to diagnose appendicitis, the most common emergency in childhood, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.
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Insurer
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 MediGuide offers Second Opinion services to health and life insurance companies beneficiaries who are diagnosed with life threatening medical conditions. The list of eligible (qualifying) medical conditions is determined by the insurer in accordance with demographics, claims experience, regional differences, and benefit plan design. The standard list of qualifying medical conditions (QMCs) includes cancers, benign tumors, and congenital heart defects. The QMCs represent a small percentage of cases, which constitute a significant part of of overall healthcare costs (See Diagram 1, Source: Mercer 2004).
MediGuide facilitates access to quality healthcare services and experienced clinical decision making, which leads to greater acceptability, patient satisfaction, and patient compliance with proposed treatment guidelines (See Diagram 2, Source: MedStat/Palmer/Lawthers, 2004). 
MediGuide provides insurers with tools for improving health care management while also enhancing market positioning and public relations, in particular:
- Improves quality of medical care and outcomes due to more timely and accurate diagnoses, increased patient compliance, and minimization of pain and suffering
- Provides additional means for managing cost of care due to optimized diagnostic and treatment plans, including prescription drug usage
- Builds customer-friendly image and loyalty by easing access to advice from “centers of excellence” while minimizing customer’s out-of-pocket expenses
- Reduces legal exposure due to decrease in medical errors, misdiagnoses, mistreatments, and improved patient-physician communications
- MediGuide’s independence from both insurers and medical centers augments image of objectivity and impartiality, and serves to balance existing mistrust towards health insurance companies
Most importantly, independent Second Opinion services save lives and provide “peace of mind” to all parties involved.
The service is offered on a capitated basis or as a voluntary rider to the health or life insurance policy.
Please visit our online Library to find links to articles and studies published by independent parties on efficacy and impact of Second Opinion and other disease management services.
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