02 Jun 2011

New Treatment for Foot Pain Now Available in Quad-Cities

By Dr. Kevin Smith, D.P.M.

New MLS Laser Treatment offers instant pain relief and promotes healing.

May 12, 2011 (Moline, IL) - Dr. Kevin Smith, D.P.M. has become the first podiatrist in the Quad-Cities to offer MLS laser therapy to his patients.  The FDA-approved treatment is quick, painless and offers quick instant relief of pain, swelling and inflammation without side effects.   The treatment has been used successfully to treat patients with heel pain, sprains and strains as well as relieving pain from arthritis of the foot, and helping to speed healing after foot surgery.

MLS Laser Therapy will compliment the broad array of treatments and therapies available at Dr. Smith's practice.  Dr. Smith calls the MLS system "the most promising treatment I have seen in years for relieving pain and promoting healing," said Dr. Smith, who purchased the device for his practice in April.  He added, "I was impressed not only by the results the MLS Laser produced, but also the broad range of problems it can treat."   MLS Laser Therapy has become a very popular pain relief option in the clinical practices where it is offered, with 90% of patients experiencing significant improvement of their symptoms in as few as one to two treatments.

Though lasers have been used by doctors for some 35 years, MLS Laser Therapy is a state-of-the-art breakthrough in restoring patient mobility. This innovative therapy works at a cellular level using a synchronized combination of laser emissions, simultaneously addressing swelling, pain and the loss of joint motion. The result is a significant leap forward and a huge departure from traditional treatments.

Dr. Smith explains, "Using the MLS Laser, the cells of the tendons, ligaments and muscles, even the skin repairs itself faster. As the inflammation is reduced, the pain subsides, helping the body achieve a speedy recovery."  Unlike some pharmacological solutions or invasive treatments, MLS Laser Therapy has no known negative side effects. Chronic conditions can be successfully controlled with one phase of 10 short treatments followed by an occasional maintenance treatment.

Treatments last 4 - 8 minutes each.   Benefit from these treatments generally last 48-72 hours.  A standard series of 6-7 treatments is recommended to achieve optimal, sometimes permanent results.  Because tissues can only absorb a limited amount of energy at a time, treatments must be separated by at least 15 hours.   "We're so pleased to be able to offer this remarkable treatment to our patients, especially those whose pain has been difficult to manage," said Dr. Smith.

31 May 2011

Why are Minority Patients Missing out on Diabetes Care?

By Mike Klawitter

Study: High-risk minority groups not being screened for diabetes

Even for patients with insurance, screening is below desired levels

 MADISON, Wis. -- Although people from certain ethnic groups are at high risk for getting diabetes and should be screened, a new study suggests that such screenings are not being done as often as they should.

Dr. Ann Sheehy, a hospitalist and clinical assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, was lead author of the findings, which will appear in the June edition of Diabetes Care.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says that African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders should be screened through fasting blood tests. The research gathered data from more than 15,000 patients between 2003 and 2007.  All patients were insured and eligible for diabetes screening based on a number of ADA risk factors: 45 years or older, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, polycystic ovarian syndrome, obesity, heart disease, history of pre-diabetes, and ethnicity.

Sheehy and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin Health Innovation Program say according to information obtained from the doctor visits of those in the study, more than 40 percent of minority patients should have been screened for diabetes based on their ethnic background, but were not.

"I believe there is a lack of awareness that minority status is an independent risk factor not only for having diabetes, but for complications with diabetes," she said.  "Minorities get diabetes more often and tend to do worse when they have diabetes.  I don't think providers are necessarily aware of this.  There has also not been enough public and provider education about the increased risks minority patients face not only in getting diabetes but also to have complications with the disease. We hope the information learned in this study will help us care for these patients better."

Sheehy said the research proves that increased screening efforts are needed for minority populations.

"Studies have previously shown that minority preventive care is less optimal due to a lack of health care insurance or lack of clinic visits," she said.  "In this study, we wanted to look at the effect of minority status alone without the confounding effects of lack of insurance or lack of visits.  That's why we only included patients with insurance and mandated at least one visit per year.  So, we were really able to focus on the fact that insurance status and access to care were not factors in our findings. In fact, the minority patients in this study actually had significantly more primary-care visits than our non- minority patients, so access to health care was clearly not a factor in our findings."

Sheehy said it is possible primary-care providers recommended diabetes screening for minorities, but those patients did not follow through on what needed to be done.

"Although we were unable to test for this possibility in the current study, it may be that minorities had unique barriers that prevented them from being able to return for fasting labs as frequently as other patients," she said.  "Historically, a patient would come to clinic, the doctor ordered lab work to be done, and since diabetes screening used to require fasting, the patient would have to return another day after an overnight fast to get this done."

Sheehy says new standards endorsed last year by the ADA that allow a non-fasting test to be done at the same time as the clinic visit may lead to increased diabetes screenings for minorities.

For more information on diabetes programs offered at UW Health, visit www.uwhealth.org/diabetes

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28 May 2011

Measles

By Scott County Health Dept

May 25, 2011

As Memorial Day Weekend is quickly approaching, and travel plans are being made, the Scott County Health Department encourages all Scott County residents to check their measles immunization status. A higher than usual number of cases have been seen in the US this year and there is now a confirmed case of measles in Dallas County, Iowa. Measles is one of the most highly contagious infectious diseases and will occasionally cause severe illness and death.

Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Because there is no treatment for the illness, prevention is key. Anyone born after 1957 and has not had measles or has not received two doses of MMR (Measles Mumps and Rubella vaccine), can get measles if exposed. Scott County residents should check their personal and family immunization records to make sure their measles vaccinations are up-to-date.

Measles causes a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, pink eye (conjunctivitis) and a red rash that moves from the face to the rest of body. The symptoms may last from 1 - 2 weeks. If you or anyone you know is experiencing the signs and symptoms listed above, please call your health care provider and discuss your symptoms before showing up at the doctor's office, walk- in clinic or emergency room. The physician will advise you to either come to the clinic or arrange for you to be seen at a different location so other people are not exposed.

For more information contact the Scott County Health Department at 563-326-8618 or visit www.scottcountyiowa.com/health. Additional information regarding measles can also be found on the Iowa Department of Public Health's website at www.idph.state.ia.us.

Scott County Residents Encouraged to Check Measles Immunization Status Public Information Officer at 326-8618

24 May 2011

Urgent: Support Research Funding Write Congress Before May 31

By Kevin S. Johnson

Your voice is needed again?this time in the U.S. Senate.  Please write to your Senators and ask them to support research funding for prostate cancer at the Prostate Cancer Research Program.

The PCRP is critical to advancing prostate cancer research from the lab to the bedside. Funding provided by the program has accelerated the availability of drugs like XGEVA and ZYTIGA, but unless you stand up to support research funding, we could lose this valuable tool to combat prostate cancer.

Please write your U.S. Senators today.  Urge them to sign Senator Johnson's letter to the Appropriations Committee to provide funding for the Prostate Cancer Research Program. The deadline to sign the letter is June 3 - so don't wait.  WRITE your Senators TODAY.

CLICK HERE to write your Senator today!

 

Thank you for your support.

24 May 2011

Helping Veterans Access Health Care

By Grassley Press

Q.  Can veterans access telehealth services?

A.  Telehealth uses telecommunications technologies to deliver health care services, including medical consultations, prescriptions, preventive care and curative medicine.  Using telehealth could mean a phone call with a doctor about symptoms, or a trip to a local hospital for a high-tech appointment or treatment with a specialty doctor located hundreds of miles away.  For veterans in rural areas of the country, telehealth services improve access to care.  Seeing a specialist in person, without telehealth, can require many hours of driving and overnight trips.  For some older or disabled veterans, these trips can be especially difficult and may discourage them from taking preventive measures or seeking necessary health care.  The telehealth programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) enable veterans to access health care from home or a local or conveniently located medical center.  Telehealth also reduces costs for the VA.  I recently reintroduced legislation with Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, which would help more veterans to access telehealth services.

Q.  What would your telehealth legislation do?

A. Some veterans who do not have a disability related to their military service are assessed copayments for VA medical care.  The bipartisan legislation, which I also cosponsored in 2010, would waive veterans' copayments for telehealth services.  Right now, veterans' copayments can be as high as $50 when specialized care is needed.  The goal of our legislation is to encourage more veterans to take advantage of this user-friendly, lower-cost alternative.  Accessing care through telehealth helps us to meet the promise made to America's veterans that they would receive the care they need.   Already, thousands of Iowa's veterans have enrolled in telehealth programs, and many more could take advantage of this service.  The elimination of copayments for telehealth would lessen the financial burden on those enrolled today and encourage other veterans to use this high quality and cost-effective health care delivery system.  The option of telehealth is a win-win for veterans and taxpayers.

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24 May 2011

Braley Receives Iowa Medical Society Award

By Alexandra Krasov

Washington, DC - May 18, 2011 - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement after receiving the Iowa Medical Society Presidential Citation Award. The award was presented to Rep. Braley by the Iowa Medical Society "in honor of his tireless work to restore geographic equity to physician Medicarereimbursement":

"Iowa doctors and hospitals provide some of the highest quality, lowest cost care in the country. But instead of rewarding this achievement, our Medicare system actually punished these providers with lower reimbursement rates than providers in other states. This is blatantly unfair, and threatens to discourage providers from giving patients the best possible care. I fought long and hard to fix this inequity during the health care negotiations, and I'm very proud of what we were able to accomplish with the great help of Iowa doctors and hospitals."

 

Throughout the debate on health care reform, Rep. Braley fought to address long-standing geographic disparities in Medicare reimbursements, and to increase reimbursements for high-quality, low-cost care.  Iowa doctors, hospitals, and health care providers have long suffered from an unfair Medicare formula, which reimbursed them at a lower rate thanproviders in other states - all while they were offering some of the highest quality, lowest-cost care in the nation. Thanks to Rep. Braley's efforts, Iowa doctors are now seeing a 10% increase in reimbursement rates and Iowa hospitals are receiving $33 million in additional reimbursements this year and next year.

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19 May 2011

In Iowa's Interest: Protecting Medicare for Iowans

By Rick Martin
By Senator Tom Harkin

Medicare is one of the real cornerstones of our middle class way of life in Iowa.  Thanks to Medicare, people of all walks of life have the peace of mind of knowing that, in their senior years, they will have guaranteed access to quality medical care.  We have always assumed that Medicare was something rock solid and permanent.  Unfortunately, there are some who want to end Medicare as we know it.  

Last month, the Republican controlled House of Representatives passed a budget that has profound implications for every American - but especially for seniors.  It calls for deep funding cuts to education and Medicaid, and it effectively ends the Medicare program. In its place, Republicans would give future seniors a voucher that they can use to purchase a private health insurance plan.  Our nation must find ways to address our nation's financial situation, but this proposal is absolutely unacceptable.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that, under this proposal, future seniors will have to pay two-thirds of the cost of their health insurance by 2030.  Those out-of-pocket costs will average more than $12,000 per person per year - more than double the current cost to seniors.  How is an elderly widow or widower struggling to live on a fixed income going to come up with $12,000 for health insurance?  Even worse, many seniors - especially those with serious health conditions - simply won't be able to find a health insurer that will offer an affordable plan.  This is simply not right - especially when people have paid into Medicare their entire life and count on it to deliver comprehensive health benefits.  

Many will say that those currently on Medicare will not be affected and that Americans 55 and older will be able to keep their current Medicare coverage.  That's a woefully short-sighted argument.  What will happen to the children and grandchildren of those currently on Medicare?  This cynical argument assumes that seniors don't care about the next generation, and in talking to Iowans about this issue, this is not true.  Frankly, in my opinion, the proposal to dismantle Medicare is not just unworkable and unfair; it is unconscionable.  

This is not meant to be a scare tactic, but a call to action.  I know Iowans will not stand for this unwise, unbalanced, unfair assault on their economic security and middle-class way of life.  The Republicans' proposed Medicare cut hasn't come before the Senate yet, and I will do everything I can to stop it.  I will do everything I can to protect the security and health of today's seniors, and all Americans who will one day turn to Medicare.  And I encourage all Iowans to voice their opposition to eliminating Medicare.

For more information, please feel free to visit my website at harkin.senate.gov or contact any of my offices in Washington, D.C. or Iowa.

17 May 2011

Low Impact, High Results: TOPS Encourages Walking for Fitness

By Kimberly Greene
MILWAUKEE, WI - May 17, 2011 - National Senior Health and Fitness Day is May 25 and TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, and its members are offering their expertise and suggestions to help Americans reshape their bodies and lifestyles in the journey towards a lifetime of good health.

According to Amy Goldwater, M.S., educator, former body building champion, and physical fitness expert for TOPS, scientific studies indicate that the more active people are, the greater their life expectancy. "Scientists believe that a healthy, active lifestyle allows people to live a vibrant life - a physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially active, and functionally independent existence. These are the rewards of a wellness way of life," she says.

For those who are looking for a way to begin on the path to good health, TOPS suggests starting with a walking program. Walking is a slow and easy way to ease the body into a higher level of fitness.  It is accessible to most everyone, doesn't require any special equipment or practice, and offers a long list of health benefits, including:

• Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) and raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
• Lowering blood pressure
• Reducing the risk of, or managing, type 2 diabetes
• Preventing osteoporosis
• Managing weight
• Improving mood

According to TOPS, speed is not as important as one might think.  For example, recent research indicates that walking at a normal, brisk pace can reduce the risk of heart attack by nearly the same amount as jogging or another aerobic activity.

Even though walking is a low impact activity and sustaining a serious injury is unlikely, it is important to prepare for this exercise to prevent things like blisters or muscle pain.  For this reason, one should wear comfortable footwear with arch support, a firm heel, and thick but flexible soles. Wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothes in layers and dress for the weather and the time of day you are walking. Good posture is important. It is also important to begin slowly, to warm up the muscles, and to stretch your muscles before and after your walk.

Here are a few other things to remember when taking the first steps toward fitness:

• It's okay to start slowly, especially if a fitness routine is new. Set defined goals of time and distance and stick to them.  Then slowly increase the time and distance to 30 to 60 minutes several times a week.
• Measure the intensity of the workout by monitoring heart rate. This can be done manually by checking the pulse in the wrist or neck or with an electronic device. Knowing the intensity of the workout will help to maximize its effect on the body.
• Set realistic goals that are attainable.  Again, starting slowly may be best for those just beginning a fitness routine.
• Keep track of the number of steps taken or the distance walked as a source of motivation.  Consider a walking journal or automated pedometer to keep this record.
• Bring a friend along if you don't like to walk alone.
• Take different routes to avoid monotony.

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the original, nonprofit weight-loss support and wellness education organization, was established more than 63 years ago to champion weight-loss support and success.  Founded and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, TOPS promotes successful, affordable weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness information, and support from others at weekly chapter meetings. TOPS has about 170,000 members in nearly 10,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. To find a local chapter, visit www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

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17 May 2011

Nursing Home Lobbying Group Seeking Exemption from Health Law Contributed $4.5M in Last Decade

By Pamela Helsey

May 17, 2011 - Nursing homes are seeking exemptions from the new health care law, claiming an inability to fund new insurance coverage mandates, according to the New York Times.

According to analysis conducted by MapLight, over the past decade (Jan 1. 2001-Dec. 31 2010):

Breakdown by Party per Election Cycle

A closer look at contributions from nursing homes shows that their contributions to senators are fairly evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats within each cycle, but contributions to House members vary according to which party is in power. While there was only one cycle in the last five in which either party in the Senate received more than 53% of nursing home contributions (57% to Democrats in the 2004 cycle), the party in control of the House of Representatives never received less than 58% of nursing home contributions to House members.

U.S. Congress:


 2002 cycle 2004 cycle 2006 cycle 2008 cycle 2010 cycle Total
Democrat $ 613,233 $ 721,390 $ 970,863 $ 2,004,041 $ 1,953,872 $ 6,263,399
Republican $ 830,049 $ 940,655 $ 1,394,633 $ 1,406,510 $ 1,542,818 $ 6,114,665
Total $ 1,443,282 $ 1,662,045 $ 2,365,496 $ 3,410,551 $ 3,496,690 $12,378,064
Democrat % 42% 43% 41% 59% 56% 51%
Republican % 58% 57% 59% 41% 44% 49%

House of Representatives:


 2002 cycle 2004 cycle 2006 cycle 2008 cycle 2010 cycle Total
Democrat $ 324,254 $ 310,385 $ 562,863 $ 1,179,870 $ 1,352,552 $ 3,729,924
Republican $ 532,599 $ 631,371 $ 1,005,807 $ 688,485 $ 997,385 $ 3,855,647
Total $ 856,853 $ 941,756 $ 1,568,670 $ 1,868,355 $ 2,349,937 $ 7,585,571
Democrat % 38% 33% 36% 63% 58% 49%
Republican % 62% 67% 64% 37% 42% 51%

Senate:


 2002 cycle 2004 cycle 2006 cycle 2008 cycle 2010 cycle Total
Democrat $ 288,979 $ 411,005 $ 408,000 $ 824,171 $ 601,320 $ 2,533,475
Republican $ 297,450 $ 309,284 $ 388,826 $ 718,025 $ 545,433 $ 2,259,018
Total $ 586,429 $ 720,289 $ 796,826 $ 1,542,196 $ 1,146,753 $ 4,792,493
Democrat % 49% 57% 51% 53% 52% 53%
Republican % 51% 43% 49% 47% 48% 47%

Monetary and non-monetary contributions to candidate campaign committees of legislators serving in the 109th, 110th, 111th and 112th Congresses. Contributions data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics ( OpenSecrets.org). Contribution totals are based on campaign contribution figures connected to the nursing home industry as established by the Center for Responsive Politics.

A link to this data release can be found here.

16 May 2011

In Iowa's Interest: Celebrating the Promise of Cancer Research

By Rick Martin
By Senator Tom Harkin


May is Cancer Research Month - a time for our country to pause and recognize the landmark accomplishments and life-saving promise of this critical research.  And, we are reminded during this month, that one of the best ways we can fight this epidemic and save lives is to continue to research cures, causes, treatments and prevention tools.

Despite the advancements that have been made in recent years, cancer remains one of the greatest health concerns in our nation.  It is estimated that in 2010, over 1.5 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer in the United States, causing more than 550,000 deaths.  This makes cancer the second most common cause of death in this country. In Iowa in 2010, an estimated 6,400 Iowans will die from cancer, 14 times the number caused by auto fatalities.

In the past years, we have made great strides. Early detection has increased survival rates and new tools have greatly improved the five-year survival rate for many types of cancer, but there is still much work to be done.  That is why as Chairman of both the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds medical research, and as Chairman of the Committee that oversees health initiatives, I have actively fought to provide funding at both the national and local levels for cancer research, screening and prevention initiatives. In fiscal year 2011, the National Institutes of Health will fund $5.8 billion in cancer research.  And last year, I secured $370 million for cancer screening and prevention efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Out of those funds, Iowa runs the Iowa Gets Screened program and Care For Yourself programs, which provide free or low-cost screening for colon, breast and cervical cancers. Iowa schools and institutions such as the University of Iowa are also helping to lead the way in cancer research, and I have been honored to help secure nearly $21 million in NIH funding in 2010 for critical research into lung, prostrate and pancreatic cancer, as well as the role of nutrition in cancer prevention.

With Congress focusing on deficit reduction and cost-cutting it will be tempting for some to reduce funding for cancer research that can lead to better treatments, better screening tools and more effective prevention of cancer. But as a nation, we cannot afford to put transformative science on hold, particularly now, when strong investments in medical research could pay extraordinary dividends to our health and economic well-being. Even when considered in purely economic terms, it is estimated that every one percent decline in cancer mortality saves the United States economy $500 billion. I will fight to ensure that critical funding for cancer research is not cut.

For more information please feel free to contact any of my offices or visit my website at harkin.senate.gov.

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