Health care is out of reach for many people these days. When it comes to healthcare, Americans are probably the least insured in the world. The plans that are offered as a part of their job package are expensive so most people opt out of these. They rely on low cost clinics and emergency rooms if the condition is serious.

However, there are no discount dental plans available at the emergency room or most clinics. These types of clinics are often few and far between. Therefore, most people put their dental problems at the bottom of the list.

An alternative to the gloomy forecast of putting healthcare on the back burner is Ameriplan(R). They have been serving the public's needs since 1992 and have over one million members.

Discount Health - The Types

They offer discount health programs that are affordable. When it comes to your health you should not take chances. This is what Ameriplan(R) believes as well. They have two plans for medical care. A basic health program and a total health program.

Their basic health plan gives you access to many thousands of physicians from which to choose. This includes mental health care as well. They also give you access to a Nurse Line program to answer you health questions. If you need immediate care for a problem but are unsure of what to do or where to go, the Nurse Line program can help.

The total plan from Ameriplan(R) has all the same services of the basic plan however, they also include the Dental Plus program which not only has dental but vision, prescription, and chiropractic services as well. Discount dental plans are extremely important. The cost of going to the dentist is escalating and many people just cannot afford to go.

Discount Dental

Did you know in 2004, more than half of the children who had no health insurance had not been to a dentist in a year? More than one in five needed to go but could not because their families could not afford either the insurance or the cost of the visit. Since that time the price of everything has gone up, including dental insurance.

Ameriplan(R) Dental Plus has a solution to this problem. If you join today, you do not have to wait. You can make an appointment with a dentist without delay. By being a member of the Ameriplan(R) dental plans, you can receive discounts of up to 80% off your dental needs. The services they cover are not the basic low cost services either.

They cover braces for children and adults. The availability of specialists ranging from Periodontists to Oral surgeons to take care of your dental problems are covered. Even problems that you may have had for a period of time are covered unless the treatment for these problems has already been started by another dentist.

The Ameriplan(R) dental plan has many healthcare providers that are a part of their network To get an idea just how many options you will have for their medical providers look at the following information:

* Dental Providers - 30,000+
* Chiropractic Providers - 7,500+
* Pharmacies - 50,000+
* Optical Providers - 12,000+

These numbers are growing daily so the above mentioned numbers are subject to change at any time. The need for optical care is another problem that many people face when the insurance they have is just not enough or they cannot afford the insurance at all.

Discount Optical

When you join Ameriplan(R) discount health programs, the options are many. You will have access to national names such as Pearle Vision, Lens Crafters, and Sears. Percentages of savings vary from 10% to 60% depending on the service that you require. You can even save from 10% to 55% on lasik surgery.

The plus side of belonging to this health plan is the benefit of having all your medical needs under one plan. In addition to the medical, you also have the dental, vision, and chiropractic services. It is great to be able to have one company handling all your medical needs without having to contact a separate company for each issue. It also makes it easier to keep track of for all your family members.

Discount Chiropractic

Ameriplan(R) offers discount chiropractic as a part of their Dental Plus program. The savings are instant. Your chiropractor will discount fees up to 50% for your services. There are more than 7500 doctors in their network so there should be not problem finding a chiropractor in your area.. The first visit to determine your needs is free. With 50% on diagnostic, 50% on x-rays that are necessary, and 30% on treatments, the savings are affordable.

Lead aprons are primarily used for bodily protection during x-ray procedures. X-rays provide detailed images of muscles, bones, tissues, and other bodily masses so that doctors are able to diagnose tumors, bone fractures, and other internal conditions that need treatment. Despite the many medical benefits these images provide, prolonged or excessive exposure is known to cause cancer and other serious medical conditions. Lead, as well as other elements, has x-ray attenuating properties as a result of its high density and high atomic number. These aprons are designed to block harmful radiation and minimize the risks associated with radiation exposure.

Standard radiation protection lead aprons have a successful history of use during radiation procedures in hospitals and any medical procedure that involves x-rays. However, in recent years, more varieties of radiation aprons have been developed.One option of radiation aprons are Xenolite leaded aprons, which are a lightweight lead apron, weighing approximately 30 percent less than standard-grade radiation protection lead aprons. Their lightweight property is largely due to the radiation apron's use of a 3-element attenuating material rather than a using 100 percent lead construction. An added benefit of Xenolite radiation protection lead aprons is that they can be recycled.

The main purpose of lightweight lead aprons and lightweight lead free aprons is to reduce strain and increase comfort for both patients and technicians during x-ray radiation procedures. Lightweight aprons are especially important for use during these procedures that occur for long periods of time, such as interventional radiological procedures, which can cause back, leg, or other bodily pain.

Many medical professionals are frequently surrounded by radiation, which is why lead aprons are vital tool for protection. Without the assistance of radiation aprons, the medical field would not be able to reap the benefits that diagnostic images provide.

In the interest of providing cost-effective and high-quality care, a growing number of health care organizations are enhancing their pediatric critical care nursing staff, by hiring nurses with an even higher professional scope of practice. Two such examples include; the pediatric clinical nurse specialists (CNS) who tends to work within the hospital setting and the pediatric nurse practitioner (NP), who often works in outpatient clinics.

The need for more specialized pediatric critical care nursing stems from changes in health care delivery systems and the fact that patients are having more dynamic and complex health care needs. In an effort to create a more seamless, synchronized and effective method of care delivery, some health care professionals are advocating that these two roles, the CNS and NP, be merged into one advanced nursing role.

Pediatric critical care nursing is specialized, in that it focuses on the pediatric patient. However an advanced practice nurse, such as the NP, has further training and the knowledge required for taking histories, performing physical exams, making a diagnoses, and prescribing medications. The CNS focuses more on patient and staff education; they are valued for their unique contributions to case management, care coordination, and patient teaching.

he exact scope of the CNS and NP roles can be governed by the policies and procedures of their employer, as well as their state licensing board. Advocates for merging these roles, suggest that an advanced pediatric critical care nurse should be able to perform both of these roles, of CNS and NP.

Health care organizations are concerned about containing costs, ensuring patient and family satisfaction and improving quality of care. Pediatric critical care nursing benefits by having access to these higher level specializations. Some specialty physicians, such as pediatric cardiologists, recognize that employing a pediatric NP may support the expansion of his/her current practice. However, not all professions will necessarily be supportive of a merger between the CNS and the NP roles; some Physician Assistance may perceive the new Advanced Practitioner role as a threat to their current positions.

Moving forward with this proposed merger will require restructuring at the academic and institutional levels. Educational administrators will be required to find innovative ways of facilitating the enrollment process for nurses who wish to progress from pediatric critical care nursing, toward advance practice nursing. Offering these courses via distance education or through evening courses, may facilitate the nurse's ability to pursue professional development and career advancement, while at the same time balancing work, family and school.

Beyond physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and diagnostics, the APN is expected to be knowledgeable in the areas of health promotion, counseling, and management of common pediatric conditions from birth through adolescences. The APN is also expected to support the administration team.

Therefore, the course curriculum is expected to cover management principles such as budgeting, creating and developing corporate policies and procedures and managing human resources; each of these issues affects the APN's role.

Pediatric critical care nursing has become increasingly complex. The merging of the CNS and NP roles into one advance practice nursing role is expected to produce a more efficient and effective form of care delivery. However, the benefits of such a merger continue to be hotly debated amongst academic circles. Time will tell whether the CNS and NP roles merge or remain distinct and separate positions; in either case, these advanced level roles play a critical role in providing cost-effective and efficient quality of care.

Patient transfer is an important component when it comes to medical care. Easy room to room patient transporting is essential in hospitals and other medical facilities, especially during emergency situations. Transfer devices must be available for bariatric patients, paralyzed patients, and patients with other handicapping conditions that need special patient moving equipment. These individuals with loss of mobility would otherwise have difficulty being transferred to check-ups and procedures. Additionally, general patient transfer equipment is a hospital requirement for patients whether they are on their way to surgery or are just changing to another hospital room.

In order to safely move recovering or injured patients on a stable surface, a wide variety of transfer boards are offered by patient transfer products suppliers. Some specialty patient moving equipment that is specialized for bariatric and pediatric use is available for medical uses. Some special features offered in the design of the patient transporting boards are convenient sliding, unique shapes, lightweight boards, and static-treated carbon material. Most transfer devices have a specific manner of transfer: either in a seated, supine, or prone position.

For obese, immobilized, and injured patients, a wide range of wheelchairs are available that boast sturdy aluminum frames, smooth-rolling performance, durable upholstery, and versatile widths. Specialty medical lifts are also engineered for bariatric patient transporting. This obese patient moving equipment allows overweight individuals to move with ease and saves them the embarrassment of needing extra medical personnel assistance.

Personnel safety should be one of the main focuses when it comes to patient transfer. When researching patient transfer equipment the main focus aside from patient safety one should consider staff safety. Find ergonomically designed devices so that personnel will not get injured while they are moving patients.

Hospitalized children often cope with pain, separation, and an unfamiliar environment. Their vulnerability demands a highly specialized team of professionals. Arguably, one of the most integral members of a children's hospital team is the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).

According to the Child Life Council, the main role of the CCLS is to improve the child's ability to understand stressful healthcare and life experiences, by fostering an environment that offers both emotional and developmental growth opportunities. Since a child's welfare directly depends on the wellbeing of the entire family, the CCLS also provides parents, siblings and extended family members with information, support and guidance. Becoming a CCLS requires a university degree, covering topics on human growth and development, psychology, and counseling; it may also require an internship within a hospital for sick children.

Play activities are universal across cultures and essential to human development. More specifically, the CCLS supports children through the use of "therapeutic play" activities. These include; encouraging the child to work through their emotional issues by having them re-enact their accident using toy cars, stuffed animals and/or dolls; teaching the child about an upcoming procedure by allowing them to touch and feel some of the equipment; demonstrating a procedure on a stuffed toy, or using dolls and props to help explain the child's diagnoses.

Children who work with a CCLS tend to show fewer physical signs of fear; such as sweaty palms or an elevated heart rate and blood pressure. Therapeutic play is not only about supporting the child emotionally and psychologically, it can also be used to strengthen the child physically. For instance, taking deep breaths to blow bubbles can help strengthen a child's respiratory status. The benefits of working with the CCLS are measurable. The American Academy of Pediatrics (September 2006) recognizes that child life services improve pediatric care. Employing a CCLS may also contribute to shorter hospitalization periods and a decreased use of pain medications.

Children's hospital websites are often proud to highlight the CCLS role within their organization. For example, within one Texas area children's hospital the CCLS prepares children for tests, surgeries and other procedures; provides information and education surrounding the child's diagnosis; helps develop children's hospital policies and uses teaching dolls, stuffed animals and medical equipment as a way of preparing and educating the child. The CCLS also supports the child's siblings and helps children prepare for school re-entry.

These services are not unique to hospitalized children. The trend toward outpatient services has led many facilities to develop Child Life positions within their outpatient clinics. When possible the CCLS conducts pre-admission tours of the hospital; thereby facilitating the child's subsequent admission. In 2003, one Dallas area children's hospital began receiving funds from a charitable organization, to fund a "Child Life Assistant" within their outpatient setting. Their Child Life Assistant creates some much needed distraction, through educational activities, such as individual and group games. The CCLS role allows for continuity of care for families that are returning to the children's hospital outpatient clinic week after week.

Parents and children come to view the CCLS as a "safe" person, who is well equipped to provide emotional, cognitive and developmental support. This level of focus is what makes a children's hospital unique. Nation wide, children's hospitals have found this position to be instrumental in helping to decrease fear and anxiety amongst all family members.

If you are having a treatment procedure at Yanhee General Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand you and any family members that are with you are going to need a place to stay before, during and after your treatment. Fortunately, there are many options available for your lodging needs.

For some reason, many people seem to view Thailand as a destination that doesn't have much to provide to its international visitors. This could not be further from the truth. Bangkok, Thailand has all of the comforts of home that you will need during your stay there. There are many options for you to choose from when deciding where to stay including luxury hotels, boutique hotels, business hotels and even serviced apartments. Deciding on where to stay is simply a matter of deciding which accommodations you feel may be best for you.

First and foremost, there is nothing suitable close to the hospital. The closest suitable accommodations would be in the Ladprao area or Rachadaphisek area. This is so because the hospital is located at the outskirt of town. This may be one reason why the service prices here are so reasonable.

There are many luxury hotels in Bangkok that will offer you service that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. The luxury five star hotels in Bangkok offer outstanding service, sumptuous environments and facilities that are unsurpassed. The best part is, these luxury hotels are more affordable than you think. If you and your family are looking for a unique experience before, during and after your surgery procedure at Yanhee General Hospital, consider staying at one of the many luxury hotels located in the area. These facilities are generally located in the middle of town. Although as mentioned, you can find something nice in above two areas.

If luxury hotels aren't really your style, there are still many extremely nice and accommodating hotels for you to choose from. There are many affordable and budget hotels in the Bangkok area that though not five star, can still provide you with the first-class service you deserve at unbelievably affordable prices. Many of the Boutique hotels that are available in Bangkok also offer guests an affordable stay with an extremely unique experience. These hotels offer guests all of the comforts of home in a trendy environment, for a fraction of the cost of luxury hotels. You do need to check these out carefully before you make the final decision.

If you are planning on staying in Bangkok for a period of time because your procedure at Yanhee may be lengthy, you may want to consider one of the many serviced apartments that Bangkok has to offer. These serviced apartments are quite popular for international travelers that will be traveling with their family and feel a hotel is not the right choice for them. These apartments offer many of the same amenities as a hotel such as room service and house keeping, however they also offer more space than a hotel room and are stocked with their own fully equipped kitchen and living quarters. Staying in a serviced apartment in Bangkok truly gives you all of the comforts of home, at affordable prices.

Any of these lodging options are available to you when you have a procedure at Yanhee General Hospital. Do expect to use taxi and hotel transportation to get to the hospital. Anyway, you should have no problem finding the right place for you.

MRI equipment used to be a rarity in the medical industry fifteen years ago but now they have become quite common place in the United States medical field. The MRI industry is expected to reach almost two billion dollars in the year 2008 alone. This industry is especially growing at an even faster rate outside of the United States because the technology is still new to less developed countries.

MRI Equipment is relied on extensively today in the diagnostic imaging field because it provides such detailed images for physicians. This way they can properly diagnose their patients. MRI is slowly being introduced to developing countries and in the United States a new MRI technology is coming to market. This new technology is called 3T machines. 3T stands for 3-tesla which provides superior imaging capabilities in less time than a standard MRI machine. The old MRI equipment standard was 1.5 Tesla.

Better image quality is important with these new machines since it can give doctors a cleared picture of their patients ailments, which lead to a proper diagnosis. Also, with the older 1.5T machines the MRI took a significant amount of time to take. With these new machines the time factor has been significantly reduced. This is important for the patient because MRI machines have a couple of downsides. The machines are loud and enclosed, which encapsulates the patient as the image is being taken.

With the new technology coming out patients will not fear having these images taken with MRI equipment. With patients being less reluctant to have these procedures done the MRI industry will continue to grow at a fast pace. Physicians will continue to rely heavily on this emerging technology and will be able to make better diagnosis' for their patients an which will in turn help cure their ailments.

Computers have become a ubiquitous presence in all fields of business. From the farmer who keeps stock of his crops and field rotations to teachers who plan their lessons and keep track of attendance, everyone has gone electronic. But not everybody believes in the power of computing. According to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine, many doctors and medical professionals in the US have been slow in converting to electronic health records. As far as conversion to electronic health records goes, the US lags behind many other nations. This is a fact that is rather surprising, considering they are among the most technologically advanced countries in the world.

The study, which included a national survey of 2758 physicians, found that 4% of respondents used a comprehensive electronic records system and 13% used a basic system. Of those who made use of electronic health records, the majority are young and likely to work in large practices, hospitals or health centres. The majority of physicians who don't make use of electronic records are more likely to be from older generations with small practices.

Reasons for not converting to electronic records included the difficulty in finding an appropriate system and the rather irrational fear of a chosen system becoming obsolete. Another possible reason, which wasn't cited, is perhaps the fear that data could be lost, leaked or contaminated. But with the sophisticated protection and data recovery systems available today, that seems a poor excuse.

Physicians in the survey who made use of electronic records reported that the benefits far out-weighed the potential risks; many of which could easily be avoided with proper care and monitoring. Electronic health records have been instrumental in detecting and preventing drug allergies, as well as potentially dangerous drug combinations. They also alert doctors when lab results are available, which dramatically reduces the time spent chasing down results. As soon as doctors know that results have come through, they can implement plans of action timeously and prevent a great deal of pain and suffering.

One positive element that can be taken from the study is that the number of physicians making use of electronic health records is up at least 4% since a similar survey was undertaken in 2006. The progress may be slow, but at least it's steady.