What Benefits Do Dental Offices Derive From Using A Trauma Diagnostic Questionnaire? by Jim Peterson

The advancement in technology has opened many doors for people. Nowadays, people can do almost everything with just a few clicks of their mouse button and a few strokes on the computer keyboard. People can now work at home and just communicate with their superiors or employees through e-mail and instant messaging. They can now shop online, pay bills online, and even set medical appointments online. Simply put, most of the things that required people to exert extra effort in the past can now be accomplished without them having to leave their homes.

In a similar way, innovations in technology have also helped medical practitioners to effectively carry out their businesses. It was mentioned earlier that people can now set appointments with their doctors online. Aside from that, there are a host of many different things that can be accomplished online that makes life easier for both patients and medical practitioners.

Take for example what most Toronto dentists have done. They have worked with developers of the AssistMedic system to make their business more practical not only to them but to their patients as well. The AssistMedic system is basically a system that allows patients to access the websites of these Toronto family dentists and fill up web forms to request for appointments, submit oral health reports and even fill out the Trauma Diagnostic Questionnaire which is something that needs to be accomplished in case a patient gets involved in an accident.

Oftentimes, when a person gets involved in an accident, they receive treatments for inevitable effects of the accident like concussions, bruises and so on. It's something a general practitioner can work on. However, if a patient suffers from dental injuries as a result of the accident, cosmetic dentists would need a filled up Trauma Diagnostic Questionnaire since it is required by law. This questionnaire has to be filled up with all pertinent information necessary for a trauma related diagnosis. Cosmetic dentists usually send a copy of the questionnaire to the Department of Public Welfare and insurance companies.

This medical innovation, the creation of Trauma Diagnostic Questionnaire, actually cuts both ways. For the patients, it means not having to personally go to their dentists to submit their trauma questionnaire. Instead, they can fill it up or have someone fill it up for them right in the comfort of their own homes. For cosmetic dentists, it means less or possibly no paperwork at all. They can just simply access the custom web forms and securely facilitate the distribution of the forms to their branches to institutions that need access to the form.

Dentists, cosmetic dentists and other medical practitioners are busy people. They check up on a lot of people and the development of the AssistMedic system is something that would effectively help them perform their job. The web forms, in this case the Trauma Diagnostic Questionnaire, will allow them to look into each patient's case even before they actually meet with their patients. So the patients are spared from a grueling question and answer session with their cosmetic dentists and the dentists in turn can immediately get to work. The IcyCRM system, therefore, help dentists become more effective and productive.

The Benefits Of Using Internet-Accessible Medical Examination Reports by Jim Peterson

If you have been a medical practitioner or a doctor for quite a number of years, then surely, you've realized how important medical examination reports are. Almost every other person needs it when applying for a job, applying for a driver's license or trying to get certain benefits from the government. Some universities even require this report from students.

A medical examination report is a document that's basically accomplished by a doctor. Years ago, a person in need of such would need to personally go to a medical office and undergo rigorous physical examination. After some time, the doctor will call the patient back for another appointment, this time to discuss the results of the medical exam. Looking at it on a certain angle, you may notice that the procedure eats up much of the doctor's time, as well as that of the patient.

But since we now live in a world where almost everything can be accomplished by tinkering on the computer, even medical examination reports are now accessible via the internet. Medical offices in this day and age have devised a way to make everything, even medical reports, easily accessible by most people. Nowadays, one can effortlessly fill out a medical web form and submit it instantaneously through the website of a medical office.

This latest innovation in the medical world is made possible all thanks to AssistMedic. AssistMedic, has provided most medical offices with website hosting services and through these websites, online medical forms are now available. These medical web forms were developed to make life easier for doctors and patients alike. Of course, you still need to go to a medical office for the initial tests and the medical exam. However, you can just as easily find out the results by following a simple URL or link that your doctor will give you so you can view the result in real-time. No need to visit the medical clinic a second time or even call the medical receptionist by phone.

On the other hand, doctors no longer need to manually fill out the medical examination reports. All they need to do is log in to their AssistMedic account and access the medical web form, fill out all the necessary information and then share it with the patient. In some cases, a second opinion from another doctor is needed. When that happens, the primary doctor can advise the other doctor. The other doctor, in turn, logs into AssistMedic and accesses the online medical form so he can peruse it.

This new technology, as clearly seen above, offers a lot of benefits and the great thing is the benefits aren't exclusive to just one individual. The benefits extend even to the patient and other individuals who might need the right to use or read the medical web form.

In this fast-paced world we live in, people are constantly on the go and sometimes, even the most important things are taken for granted. But with constant innovations, especially in the field of medicine, we can see how even computers are working hand in hand with medical practitioners and patients to make things a lot better an easier on both ends.

The Benefits From Medical Email Appointment Reminders by Jim Peterson

Nowadays, many medical practices make use of call processing systems and other services including voice broadcasting, SMS and E-mail reminders. In fact, in a world where everybody knows the internet, buys, sell and even date online, not having a website and an email account will certainly limit your business opportunities. Many doctors have already come to face with this fact, building websites that let their patients sign up with their practice and even book an appointment online.

Also, the market offers very interesting applications to let doctors organize their daily agendas, by adopting SMS and email appointment reminders, which reduce missed appointments and let their medical receptionist focus on other tasks.

But let's start from the beginning. How can you book an appointment online? First of all, online appointment schedulers comply with all HIPAA requirements in that the safety element of protecting the client's medical information is secure. The online appointment scheduler has these very time-saving functions - it can book appointments for patients for clinical visits or operations and if necessary generate electronic medical records (EMR) for new patients. A time and date is booked and the calendar entry is done with all the details.

Your online medical appointment scheduler will also book meetings, marking blocks of time where no appointments can be made, if you were in surgery, or away for instance, and it can also book appointments for personal events. There are three calendars provided for each medical practitioner within one practice. One calendar that is used for just practice visits. One showing all visits, practice and hospital, and a personal events that are not medical related. Each system has a consolidated calendar showing all visits for all the practitioners in the practice. The online medical scheduler allows you to control who has access for viewing each of the separate calendars. This ensures security of information. The online appointment scheduler let’s you choose the duration of each patient visit and any event you want to schedule time for. This fantastic system can save the patient, spare every medical receptionist and doctor an enormous amount of stress and can streamline your practice to run like clockwork.

Furthermore, you may remind your patients of their upcoming appointments by sending them emails and SMS. Patients will certainly love the fact of not having to wait for the receptionist to put see to them, or deal with a ringing telephone because the receptionist is dealing with someone else and is too busy. This way there will not be a room full of patients waiting because appointment are overbooked, running late, patient came in too early/late. You will wonder how you ever managed without this time-saver. Today we are all looking for ways to make our lives easier run smoother and flow. The online scheduler will do all this for you. And keep you on top of things.

The Benefits From Medical Phone Call Reminders. by Jim Peterson

There are many software applications available for those medical practices that wish to be up-to-date, offering their patients the best services on the market, including SMS, email and phone call appointment reminders. Most doctors, in fact, rely on appointment scheduling to manage their patients and keep their business on-going. In fact, whenever a person fails to show up for an appointment, all patients have to wait longer and the medical receptionist gets frustrated as she can sense the common dissatisfaction.

However, if you are a medical receptionist, there are a few tips to avoid such frustrating episodes:

* Remind patients of their appointments and try to explain why it is so important that they do not forget, as it would cause several problems to the whole medical staff.

* Educate patients while being kind and caring. Tell them that if they want to re-schedule their appointments, they should give call in advance to give you notice.

Fortunately, there are some applications that have been designed specifically to help you with these tasks, such as alarms and reminders.

All the patient has to do is sign up from the practice web site, fill the printable medical form and register with you. Then, as soon as they book their appointment, a group of services will be automatically activated.

These services include automated phone call reminders which are sure to be very useful as they automatically call the patient to remind them of their upcoming appointment, along with SMS and email reminders. These applications will help your practice by reducing its no-show rate, which means the medical receptionist will finally work in a pleasant environment and patients will be happier with the service offered.

All this will greatly benefit your business and your income.

In fact, we should not forget that every medical office has a productivity to maintain and, whenever we do not show up for our appointments, we damage the work of the whole staff, not just of the medical receptionist.

That is why the whole registering and booking process has been drastically simplified, letting you find the practice closer to your home by simply googling "Toronto dentist", and registering directly from the medical web form that you may even print out, in case you don't feel safe sharing your personal information on the web (even if all these services comply with the HIPAA requirements, which are sure to keep your data safe).

Then, once you are registered with your local practice, you may book your appointment using an online scheduler, which will automatically activate one or more reminders, but that depends on what services the medical staff has chosen to adopt. You might receive an e-mail reminder, as well as an SMS, or an automated phone call which also allows you to re-schedule your appointment, postponing it to a later date.

High Fructose Corn Syrup: Is It Really Dangerous? by Kathryn Steed

It's become almost impossible to walk into a grocery store and pick up a food product that does not contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as one of the first 3 ingredients, with fresh produce being the exception. Some health fanatics warn us to avoid HFCS at all costs. On the other hand, we are bombarded by aggressive television ads created by the Corn Refiner's Association telling us that HFCS is perfectly healthy. So who's right? It's time to get to the bottom of this debate with the facts!

What started out as an idea pushed by a marginal group of natural/organic food proponents quickly snowballed into a mainstream war on high fructose corn syrup. So what's the deal? Should we be ridding our shopping carts of everything that has high fructose corn syrup in it?

The short answer: Nope.

High fructose corn syrup is an extremely common sweetener and preservative found in a wide array of foods such as soft drinks, soups, yogurts, breads, salad dressings and other packaged goods. HFCS is created by changing the sugar or glucose in the cornstarch to fructose - another form of sugar. The United States started using HFCS when they realized that it gave processed foods a longer shelf life and that it was cheaper to produce than real sugar. High fructose corn syrup has the same number of calories as real sugar and is processed by our bodies in a similar way.

One theory floating around is that high fructose corn syrup is causing a spike in obesity since a trend was noticed between increasing obesity rates and consuming more HFCY. This led many to believe that consuming this ubiquitous sweetener would lead to obesity. The studies that concluded this relationship, however, are anything but cut and dry.

Many of the studies used soda pop sweetened with HFCS. The problem with this is that soda is filled with empty sugar calories. So while the subjects who drank more soda had higher obesity rates, the weight gain could also be attributed to excess calories rather than HFCS. Even if the subjects drank soda sweetened with real sugar, the results could easily be the same.

High fructose corn syrup is not any less healthy than other sweeteners nor does it directly cause obesity; however, any excess of sugar will cause people to gain weight as well as increase a person's risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

So instead of eliminating all products with HFCS (which is no easy task!), limit your intake of processed foods and foods with added sugar. Also, try and avoid drinking soda pop and othery sugary beverages. Studies say that drinking 2 or more sodas a day can help pack on an additional 24 pounds a year! Focus on incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet, and you will be taking a big step in the right direction to leading a healthier lifestyle.

Find Out What's So Healthy About Seafood by Kathryn Steed

The verdict is in! The Journal of the American Medical Association found that modest consumption of fish reduces risk of coronary death by 36 percent and the rate of death by 17 percent. Researchers found that the health benefits of eating seafood outweigh the potential risks. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish each week for better health.

Most nutritionists and doctors agree that seafood plays a central role in keeping our bodies healthy. Seafood contains the Omega-3 and Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These essential oils are only produced in limited amounts by the body, making seafood consumption that much more important! It is the Omega-3 fatty acid that steals the show, however. While there are multiple types of Omega-3s, the two most important are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3s are only beneficial when taken in balance with Omega-6s. Food consumption in the United States trends toward an unhealthy imbalance in favor of the Omega-6. Too much of this fatty acid can activate common diseases, but eating more Omega-3s restores the balance.

Here’s why you should incorporate seafood into your diet:

Heart Healthy

The government has stated that Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Many studies have confirmed that consuming 2-3 servings of seafood (especially cold water fish like Sardines and Mackerel) can decrease the chances of death from a heart attack by as much as one-third. These "good fats" aid in lowering cholesterol, decreasing blood clotting factors, increasing beneficial relaxation in larger arteries and blood vessels, and decreasing the inflammatory process in blood vessels.

In addition, Omega-3s have been shown to have an effect on the heart’s electrical function, which determines your heart rate. According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, eating fish once or twice a week may lower the resting heart rate and slow the time between when the heart is signaled to beat, reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Healthy Mind

Studies have shown that those who consume seafood may be less likely to suffer from bipolar disorder. Omega-3s may also help combat symptoms of depression, especially in patients who don’t respond to typical anti-depressant medication.

Additional Benefits

Consuming seafood also decreases chances of suffering from inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Studies of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have shown that eating a daily portion of 200g of salmon can dramatically reduce symptoms of inflammation, tenderness and swollen joints. People who suffer from psoriasis also showed remarkable improvements in their skin condition after taking as little as 1.8g of fish oil per day.

A proper balance between the fatty acids can also decrease the chances of suffering from Alzheimer's disease, asthma and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries with age). Studies are currently being done that may suggest that pregnant women should consume plenty of seafood since the Omega-3 fatty acid is critical to fetal development.

As you can see, there are numerous reasons to include seafood in your meals. If you have never been a fan of seafood, experiment with different types of fish and marinades. Chances are you can find some combination that will appeal to you. If you still can’t stomach seafood, talk to you doctor about finding a nutritional supplement to ensure your body is getting these essential nutrients.

Under the Care of a Hoslitic Dentist in Seattle by Ron Warner

Don't you just wish your dentist could have been friendlier or more attentive to what you want for your own teeth? If you've been stuck with a dental professional who doesn't seem to listen to you, then it's time to shift to holistic dentistry in Seattle. This is an entirely different way of practicing dentistry. You will observe the differences. In a traditional setting, everything feels so clinical around you. But in a holistic dentist's office, you will find that everything is more relaxed and natural. Definitely, you will enjoy a lot more benefits when you go for a professional who practices holistic dentistry.

First and foremost, you would always want to have a hoslitic dentist in Seattle who will put value on your feelings and opinions regarding your own dental health. What sets this type of dentistry apart from the rest is its being patient-centered in that he will be asked for his concerns, what he thinks of the dental situation he is in and what exactly he wants to happen. When you go to your first appointment, you will find that it is incredibly relaxed and you get to be comfortable, sit back, and just have a conversation with the dentist. Instead of the dentist starting with a dental exam, he will talk to you, listen to your concerns, and try to find out what kind of dental needs you may have. This is definitely beneficial to you and will help you feel more comfortable in a dental clinic setting.

When it comes to holistic dentistry, you will find that it is a combination of careful planning of your dental care and a diagnosis that is totally accurate. This is combined with consideration for your emotional, spiritual, physical, and social needs as well. A holistic dentist in Seattle will make sure you know what procedures are to be done on you as well as the options you may take. With the right education and information from the dentist, you are able to make the decisions about treatment options. This way, you make the decision that feels right to you and the one that will best fit your needs.

Your teeth, gums, and the bones in your mouth are all very important to your health. Keeping your oral health is, thus, extremely important. But a lot of people simply either ignore this or have dentists who never listen to their questions or concerns, thus, compromising their dental health. With a good holistic dentist in Seattle, you need not make this a burden. You can be sure that your dental needs are going to be cared for effectively. The materials used for this type of dentistry are composite materials that will not hurt you. Essential oils can be used to help treat your bones and gums as well. The care that you are going to get is going to be safe and it will be centered around your needs. Now, this is what you want when you visit the dentist.

Comparison Of A Medical Office That Uses A Virtual Medical Receptionist With A Regular Old - Fashioned Medical Office by Jim Peterson

There are two ways of running a medical office and it's very easy to deduce that both are worlds apart. The first is the more conventional, old fashioned way while the second is the modern approach to it. This is the old fashioned way of running your clinic: you have a waiting area where your patients, as well as new registrants, patiently wait while your medical assistant or front desk receptionist prepares their medical records or checks their newly completed registration forms so that you may go over them before calling in the next patient.

Your front desk receptionist also has to answer phone calls and inquiries which may range from follow up calls on the result of a patient's latest check-up, a patient trying to schedule or cancel an appointment he previously made and new patients who may call, too, to set up an appointment. With the many things your medical receptionist does, it's hard to imagine how she can make your medical office run like a well-oiled machine.

With all the things your receptionist does manually, it's not impossible for human error to occur. The error could be on the part of your medical receptionist or on the part of your patients themselves. This is one situation where you can't really put the blame on anybody in particular simply because as humans, we are all bound to make mistakes.

The second way of running a medical office is the modern, more tech-savvy way. This doesn't mean you would have to say goodbye to your front desk receptionist. On the contrary, you would instead get her a very able helper in the form of a virtual medical receptionist. Yes, in this day where technology makes lives easier for everyone, you can now have a virtual medical office set up for you.

This virtual medical office is an extension of your clinic, albeit virtually. This means that your patients, as well as new ones, can simply access your medical office using the internet. Your virtual medical office will be equipped with an automated medical receptionist, something with which your patients can schedule appointments, cancel appointments, estimate how much they would pay you for the check up they have scheduled and even sign up for an initial appointment.

A virtual medical receptionist is a good investment for a medical practice of any size because it will save you and your front desk receptionist a lot of time which can be devoted to other things that needs to be done instantly in your medical office. It is a cost effective way of promoting your business and making your medical office run more smoothly and efficiently.

Appointment Reminders Help Medical Clinics Save Money by Jim Peterson

Whatever medical practice you're into, whether you are a medical doctor, a dentist, a chiropractor or an optometrist, then you probably know that when a patient doesn't show up for an appointment schedule, it would mean money down the drain. In fact, in the past financial year, a hospital in New Zealand reported that one in 10 patients missed outpatient appointments thereby costing the health system about half a million dollars in wasted staff time.

You wouldn't want that to happen to you, right? Therefore it's only appropriate that you set up a website for your medical clinic complete with an appointment scheduler. Through the appointment scheduler, your patients can set up an appointment without having to go to your medical clinic. They can just access your clinic's website, log in to the system and schedule their visit to your clinic.

Of course, the big question is what if the patient forgets that he scheduled an appointment with you online? Well to avoid missed appointments, rescheduled meetings and other problems your medical clinic should take advantage of, it would be wise for you to have a medical appointment reminder built in to the system you're using.

If you already have appointment scheduler software, integrating a medical appointment reminder to it will reap you lots of benefits. The medical appointment reminder software which will be seamlessly integrated into your appointment scheduler will not only automate the reminding process, save considerable amounts of your receptionist's time, but will also make the life of the whole medical clinic easier.

You can have the medical appointment reminder set up in such a way that patients can have the option of canceling or modifying the appointment either by e-mail or phone and the appointment scheduler will automatically update the appointment schedules with the respective adjustments. It also benefits your patients in such a way that they would no longer have to go to your medical clinic to ask if you're available so they can reschedule an appointment. Instead, the system runs to check your schedule all by itself and will notify the patient whenever all of your available slots for a specific day are already filled.

If you're determined to cut down on patient no-show costs, have your appointment scheduler integrated with a medical appointment reminder. You will not only make things easier for you receptionist, but you will also be saving your medical clinic a lot of money which you can instead use for further improvements.