“No, this is not all in my head!” A Lesson on Medical Gaslighting
At the request of my specialist, I'm walking down the hallway outside of the exam room. The physician is watching me walk away, turn around and walk back toward him. “I don’t see anything conclusive. You appear to have a normal...
What is "Medical Necessity"?
“Medical Necessity” affects your medical care at every level as well as your wallet. Are you aware of what it means exactly? A. CLINICAL POINT OF VIEW “Medical Necessity” is what your Doctor or medical...
"Concierge" Medicine: Is it for you?
Have you noticed the trend? the ads? the number of friends and acquaintances raving about easy, no-hassle, unlimited access to a clinician? It's called "Concierge Medicine" and it is a growing alternative to the US healthcare system, a seductive...
How a Care Manager or Independent Patient Advocate Might Have Helped Gene and Betsy Hackman
As we age, navigating the complexities of healthcare, long-term care planning, and daily wellness can become overwhelming. Could an independent patient advocate or care manager have helped Gene and Betsy Hackman? We now know that: Betsy...
Patient Advocacy 2025-2030: Skate Where The Puck Is Going To Be
Written by Matthew Zachary, Influencer of Things | Award-Winning Cancer Maverick • Keynote Speaker • Pioneering Podcaster • Patient Advocacy Champion • Nonprofit Whisperer • Healthcare Visionary Wayne Gretzky once said...
Nurse Advocate: How to Become an Independent Advocate and Restore Your Passion with the Perfect Career Move
As a nurse advocate, you'll have the opportunity to speak up for vulnerable patients and help them get the care they need. Here’s how you can advocate for them. In a perfect world, nurses would have plenty of time to spend with each patient...
How to Choose the Right Patient Advocate
By now you have heard of the concept of patient advocacy, but how do you choose the right one? Perhaps you are struggling with a challenging medical condition and you are looking to get things better managed as soon as possible. So how do you...
Integrating Faith Into Medicine
This is a topic I have thought about for so long. It is a topic I have struggled with myself, for many years. How do faith and science work together? So many questions arise, such as: Can you have faith and still believe in science? If the medical...
Caring For a Loved One During the Holidays
Caring for a loved one can be a full-time job. This may be a parent, child, sibling, partner or friend. It can be both emotionally and physically draining. Especially during the holidays, when everyone tends to have more on their plate...
To Avoid Unwanted Medical Treatment: Choose a Bulldog Surrogate to Fight for You
As an end-of-life (EOL) consultant, one aspect of my job is advance care planning, which is helping people create an advance directive. An Advance Directive (AD) has two components. The living will portion lists the treatment options and...
Be Consistent in Wellness Goals
In the realm of Health & Wellness, it's widely acknowledged that the setting of goals is merely the opening chapter. What unfolds next is the essence of the narrative – the unwavering commitment to meeting those goals. Consistency is not...
OPEN ENROLLMENT: Avoid These Three Common Mistakes
Open Enrollment: Avoid These Three Common Mistakes Open enrollment is the time when employees choose their benefits for the year. But guess what? A lot of people make mistakes and feel bad about their choices later! In fact, more than half...
Can You be Healthy and Live Well With a Chronic Illness?
Living with a chronic health condition can be challenging, but understanding what it is and how it affects your body can help you manage it better. Chronic health conditions are long-lasting illnesses that require ongoing management. Yes, ONGOING...
Making the Most of Your Medical Appointments
Visits to the doctor can be anxiety-provoking, stressful, and sometimes downright unpleasant. The healthcare system can be confusing and overwhelming, doctors are often behind schedule, and patients may be frustrated, uncomfortable, or worried...
Health For The Holidays
It’s hard to believe that the holiday season has officially begun. People all over the world have started preparing for Christmas. It is a magical time of year, filled with holiday get-togethers, hot cocoa, baking, Hallmark Movies, tree...