HEALTH BENEFITS FROM EATING SEAFOOD

    Around the world for several thousands of years, people have been eating various forms of seafood from all of the earth’s oceans. Archaeologists have found clam and oyster shells in the kitchens of people from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Native Americans living in New England introduced the first English visitors to their wealth of lobsters, clams, oysters, and crabs, and over 2,500 years ago the Romans sent thousands of their slaves to pick oysters on the English Channel to transport back to Rome.

    In addition to their wonderful flavors and many ways they can be cooked and prepared, seafood is a healthy, low fat, no sodium protein full of many important vitamins and minerals. Recent medical studies show that eating seafood can decrease risks of heart attack, stroke, obesity, and hypertension. Here are a few of the healthy advantages you can receive from eating seafood.

1. Zinc- important for wound healing, good hair and nails, and sperm production

    

2. Selenium- powerful antioxidant, strengthens the immune system, protects the body against heavy metals, free radicals, and aging, and is good for hair and nails

    

3. Protein- low or no fat content and a major source of low sodium protein, builds muscles, satisfies hunger

    

4. Vitamin D- good for bones, nervous system, skin and hair, necessary to process calcium and phosphorus, improves the absorption of minerals, aids the immune system, helps prevent depression, and combats inflammation

    

5. Vitamin B3- transforms fat, builds biochemical compounds, gives the body energy

    

6. Vitamin B12- healthy nervous system, builds cells, helps metabolism, produces healthy DNA

    

7. Phosphorus- good for healthy DNA, increases metabolism, encourages fat and carbohydrate metabolism, good for energy production

    

8. Iodine- good for metabolism, goiter, and hypothyroidism

    

9. Others- depending on the specific type of seafood, they may also contain niacin, thiamine, vitamin A, iron, potassium, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids

Since there have been several recent warnings about eating tainted seafood, it is important to know the location and source of the seafood before you buy and prepare the many choices available in markets and seafood stores. Environmental problems, such as red tide and water pollution, have contributed to tainting some of the world’s largest areas for harvesting seafood and fish. In general, people should avoid eating large amounts of seafood if they are unsure of the place or circumstances where the seafood was harvested or if the person is pregnant or has an immune deficiency.

    If a person is uncertain about their local seafood or imported seafood, there are a couple of good resources available for helping determine the health and safety of the seafood in question. These resources are:

    -Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch List- information is available online at www.momntereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx

    -National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration- information is available online at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/seafood

    -Blue Ocean Organization- information is available online at www.blueocean.org/seafood/seafood-guide

HOLIDAY PET FOOD

    Many pet owners rue having the family or friends feed their pets any table scraps, leftovers, or cocktail treats. This is a good thing as a small cube of cheese is equal in fat to having a cat or small dog eat two Big Mac Burgers for a human.

Sometimes the holidays are filled with such busy celebrations that the pet owner doesn’t have a chance to actually check on what their pet has ingested at the party, whether on their own or from being fed by well meaning aunties and uncles, until they notice their pets are having indigestion, eating issues around regular dog food, or other stomach maladies. Here is a recipe for making a special treat for your dogs during the holidays that you can bring to any party or gathering as a healthy substitution at those times when your pooch might munch on “people food” that won’t be good for them.

POOCH PATE

Ingredients:

1 Pound ground turkey or chicken

½ Cup parsley, chopped finely

½ Cup cooked brown rice

2/3 Cup sodium reduced, organic chicken broth

Directions:

1. In a large, non-stick skillet, put the ground turkey. Heat over medium high heat stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked and browned, about 8- 10 minutes.
2. Put the cooked turkey into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade.
3. Add the brown rice and parsley to the food processor. Pulse until a thick paste forms.
4. Add the chicken broth a little bit at a time, pulsing after each addition, until the desired consistency is achieved.
5. Serve immediately or keep refrigerated in an air tight container until ready to serve.

BENEFITS OF USING ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS

    An Electronic Health Record (EHR) refers to a computerized patient record system that can contain an individual’s medical information, prescriptions, health history, and even digital copies of diagnostic tests, such as MRI’s and x-rays. This information can be shared between physicians, hospitals, and ancillary healthcare providers, and most of the EHR computer programs allow the patient access and make additions to their health information as well.

    Physicians have heralded the EHR as a fantastic new tool for creating comprehensive and upgraded patient records, saving time, eliminating cumbersome files, stream lining patient care, keeping their office practices “green”, and helping with medical diagnostics. Under the Obama administration, Congress signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which included provisions and financial support for physicians and hospitals to convert to EHR systems, thus furthering the advancement of EHRs throughout the United States.

    Although expenses are initially high for converting to an EHR system, the long-term advantages save both physicians and patients money. Paper files can easily be lost, misfiled, or damaged during intense weather, such as flooding, or lost due to an employee mistake. The EHR system is backed up off site so the medical files are safely and securely stored. Confidentiality is guaranteed with proper use of an EHR system, and the patient’s file can be quickly and easily accessed throughout a medical system of providers, resulting in consistency throughout all areas of patient care.

    The patient advantages for using an EHR are multifaceted as well. By using a computer, any physician or healthcare worker can be guaranteed that everyone is able to read their handwriting and clinical notes eliminating the possibility of misinterpretation. In addition to this obvious advantage, here are a few more that give patients better opportunities to have cost effective and coordinated healthcare by using an EHR:

1. Access- EHRs give quick and easy access to patient’s medical files. This aspect could be the one thing that saves a patient’s life in an emergency.

    

2. Organization- Using an EHR standardizes all patients’ files, and uses the same format for organizing medical information. This saves time and money, and gives all healthcare workers the ability to easily locate the needed information they are seeking in the patient’s file.

    

3. Medical Decision-making Support- Often a patient will visit several different medical providers for various health concerns. When patients use an EHR, all the medical providers can see what treatments, medications, and interventions are being done at all of the healthcare facilities currently treating the patient and in their past.

    

4. Continuity of Care During Disasters- During disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, and fires, printed and paper medical files can be lost and destroyed. Victims with EHRs can expect that their important health records will be retrieved, and more importantly accessed, if they are injured or displaced during the disaster.

    

5. Patient Empowerment- People with an EMR can add to their medical files as needed and take them with them if they move or have to relocate. In addition, by providing physicians with a personalized EHR, people don’t have to recreate all the forms and information requested at each medical office.

    

6. Multicultural Support- In most countries, there are many languages spoken, a variety of cultures, and marked differences between segments of the population. Having use of an EHR means that wherever a patient is, and whoever is giving the medical treatment, these barriers of culture and language can be overcome to provide every patient with good medical treatment.

    

Historical Preservation- If a physician moves, closes her/his practice, retires, or dies, often times their medical records are lost or unavailable to former patients. Patients with EHRs are able to have continuity of medical care without having to research past physician’s records, or the fear of being left without the records needed for their proper medical management.

SIMPLE WAYS TO ELIMINATE HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN

    The holiday season is a joyous time for everyone to be with family, friends, coworkers, and colleagues for a steady stream of festivities which seem to span the last two months of every year. While all of us want to enjoy to the holidays to the fullest, hardly anyone wants to gain extra weight from partying. Here are a few strategic and wise choices everyone can make to limit the chances of gaining weight from all the tempting food and drinks offered throughout the holiday season of celebrations.

1. Water- Drinking lots of water has many health benefits, flushes toxins out of the body, and fills the stomach which makes people feel less inclined to eat large portions of food. Drink a glass of water before eating, and another with meals, to limit caloric intake.

    

2. Vegetables- The new federal MyPlate nutritional guidelines state that at least half of every

   meal should be comprised of vegetables. Each vegetable has unique health properties for maintaining wellness, and all vegetables provide good sources of dietary fiber. Choose vegetables for appetizers and for the bulk of your meals.

1. Go Low Carbohydrates- New research done at the University of Alabama further shows that following a low carbohydrate diet shrinks abdominal belly fat and reduces risks of several types of cancers. Carbohydrates raise blood insulin levels which impair fat burning processes in the body, so stay away from foods that are quickly broken down into glucose, such as sodas, sweets, white breads, baked goods, white rice, pasta and white potatoes.

    

2. Smaller Portions- In general, portions given at most restaurants, buffets, and many dinner parties are far too large and exceed healthy daily caloric intake guidelines. To maintain or lose weight, the same or less calories need to be used by the body on a daily basis. Having just a bite of delicious foods, sharing a dinner with a friend, taking home half of the meal in a doggie bag, or limiting portion size can all have the healthy potential for stabilization of weight.

    

3. Eat Prior To A Party- Going all day without eating or waiting for the party to eat food can give a person a larger than usual appetite and the desire to overeat at the one meal. It is better to eat small meals during the day to stabilize blood insulin levels prior to attending a party or event. Nutritionists suggest eating a small, protein ladened meal prior to having any party food.

    

4. Wisely Choose Alcoholic Drinks- The usual caveat here is that any alcoholic drink with mixers, sugar syrup, sodas, or sweeteners are packed with calories. Liqueurs are also processed with sugars for sweetening and should be avoided. Much better choices include red wine, low fat low calorie beer, or vodka and club soda.

    

5. Stagger Eating Leftovers- Nutritional research has shown that weight can be lost if a person eats a small caloric intake the day after a big, fattening meal. For example, the day after Thanksgiving, it is a good idea to have salads and unadorned proteins instead of a couple more rounds of Thanksgiving dinner.

    

6. Give Away Leftovers- Everyone attending a party loves to take home some of the host and hostesses’ food and goodies. Generously giving away leftovers will mean that there will be fewer temptations around for high caloric snacking or meals later in the week.

    

7. Careful Party Planning- If you are hosting a party, you are in charge of making the dietary choices. Unadorned vegetables instead of ones in cream sauce, a fruit and vegetable platter for appetizers instead of dips and chips, well seasoned proteins instead of gravies and sauces can be equally delicious for entertaining and not add to the possibility of holiday weight gain. Choose the menu wisely, and you will be helping your guests, yourself, and family stay healthy for the new year to come.

HEALTH BENEFITS FROM MASSAGE

    Massage is most basically simple touch, and methodically a process that is complicated and varied depending on the receiver’s personal needs, overall health, medical issues, and emotional state. Massage has been used for centuries as a medical treatment throughout the world, across cultures, and to treat a variety of medical issues. Western research has finally come abreast of what ancient knowledge holders have known for millennia—massage isn’t just for muscle pain. The Touch Research Center at the University Of Miami School Of Medicine, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, the University of North Carolina and others’ research has shown massage to have a wide breadth of health benefits and medical treatment applications.

    There are many different types of massage and techniques that are helpful for particular medical disorders, such as a treatment for arthritis, and others that have overall effects for well being, such as boosting one’s immune system. Some of the most common types of massage are Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, Reflexology, Lymph Drainage, Shiatsu, Thai, Hot Stone or Hot Shell, Cranial-Sacral, and Neuromuscular. Depending on the desired results, a person can choose the massage technique that best treats the needed healthy outcomes. All massages are giving to be both relaxing and energizing, and individual treatments should be over 30 minutes to give the receiver the best results.

    Here are some of the health issues that have been successfully treated with resulting benefits proven from studies on medical treatments using massage:

• All types of pain
• Back pain and alignment issues
• TMJ
• Headaches and migraines
• Stress management
• Lowering levels of anxiety
• Lowering levels of depression
• Lowering blood pressure
• Promoting weight gain for premature infants
• Sports related injuries
• Boosting immunity
• Cancer treatment
• Pregnancy
• Arthritis
• Lymphatic drainage
• Skin ailments, such as eczema
• Promoting deeper breathing
• Promoting blood circulation
• Improving posture
• Enhancing skin tone and health
• Improving joint flexibility
• Promoting elimination of body wastes
• Relieving muscle cramps, sciatica, and muscle spasms
• Promoting a sense of well being and relaxation

If a person has a particular medical or emotional issue they wish to address through massage, it is recommended that they research the best massage method(s) for their particular needs, interview a few massage therapists who practice that technique, and find a person and place where they can feel relaxed. This will give the person the optimal benefits from massage. It may also be necessary to receive several massage treatments before the medical issue is completely resolved, for example if massage is being used for poor posture or a sports injury. Many massage therapists use more than one style and will customize their services for a person’s particular needs. Massage therapists are required to be licensed in all states, and can also have a national massage therapist license, so a person should be sure to check with the massage therapist on their licensure prior to agreeing to any treatment.

MANY REASONS TO ADOPT A PET

    The month of October plays host to the national Adopt A Shelter Dog Month and the National Animal Safety and Protection Month. Across the country in all states local shelters will be having pet safety clinics, dog agility demonstrations, and animal adoption specials. Before a person or family adopts a pet, there are many considerations to discuss such as costs, health maintenance, exercise, travel, and when is the best time to incorporate a pet into your household. All pets have inherent costs of purchase, food, veterinarian services, pet find service fees, pet insurance, toys, leashes and collars, medications, inoculations, and other hidden costs such as pet deposits on rental properties. Basically, if a person doesn’t have the money for supporting all of expenses incurred by pet ownership, doesn’t have the time or strength to exercise their dogs, or travels away from home a lot, then they probably shouldn’t have a pet, especially a dog. However, if none of these are issues, then adopting a pet from a shelter can be a truly rewarding and life enhancing experience that can bring joy, health, and affection into the owner’s life.

    The Humane Society of the United States, the American Kennel Club, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and a host of other online sites have very useful information about how, when, and why to adopt pets. Anyone thinking of adopting a pet should do research into the breeds of interest, learn how to adopt from a shelter or pet rescue site, and be ready to spend some money upfront to assure the health, comfort, and good adjustment for their adopted pet. Sadly, over 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States simply because their owners realize after purchasing a pet that they aren’t able to adapt or care for their kitten or puppy. These rejected animals most often are taken to shelters or rescue sites where they await their fate of adoption or death.

    Here are the most common reasons to adopt from a shelter, an animal control agency, or a breed rescue site group:

• Save A Life- Animal shelters are overly crowded, and most often set time limits for every pet that states the time between adoption and euthanization. Although there are some “no kill” shelters, most are not. When a person adopts a pet, they are really saving two animal lives: the first being their adopted pet; and the second life saved comes from giving their adopted pet’s place to another shelter animal awaiting adoption.

   

• Save Money- The cost of adopting a pet varies among shelters from being free to charging minimal fees. The cost of buying a pet can run into thousands of dollars for pure breeds and hundreds for a mixed breed. Everyone wanting to adopt a pet should check on all the fees that may be charged at the time of adoption.

   

• Receive A Healthy Pet- Every animal shelter has already had the animals checked by veterinarians, given vaccinations, spayed and neutered, and washed and flea sprayed to prepare them for adoption. Some shelters may charge a minimal fee for some of these services, such as neutering. Many others will furnish the adoptive owner with papers and documentation of the exact vaccinations and treatments given to their pet prior to adoption.

   

• The Right Pet For You- Like all other big choices in life, adopting a pet needs to have careful consideration prior to the adoption. You can tell the shelter workers or fill out an application on a breed adoption site that states your preferences, needs, desires, and lifestyle. For example, you may need a dog that is small because you live in an apartment with size restrictions, desire a pet that is older and already house trained, and want one that doesn’t shed. These pets are available, and with the right information and research, every person can have a pet tailored to their needs and suitable to their likes.

   

• Improvement To Your Health- Many medical research articles have proven results that owning a pet can contribute to better health and wellness for the owner. These healthy benefits are as general as losing weight due to exercising with the pet, and as specific as lowered blood pressure, lengthened lifespan, lower diabetes count, lowered risks of strokes, shorter recover times from surgery, and less rates of anxiety and depression.

   

• Help Choosing a Pet- The ASPCA offers prospective pet owners a chance to foster a pet before making the choice of adoptive ownership. This helps a person who doesn’t know much about pet ownership, responsibilities, and the respective duties of pet co-habitation to take the pet home as a foster pet to experience daily living and to help decide if adoption is the right choice for them and that particular pet.

   

• Behavior and Support- Many shelters have support programs for adoptive parents of pets to assure they are ready to take the responsibility and maintain the health of their adoptive pet. These programs can include house training, behavior management classes, socialization opportunities, and even how to bathe your pet.

   

• Avoid Problems- Everyone has heard about the inbreeding done in some breeds that result in physical and emotional problems, overcrowding and poor health maintenance practiced in puppy mills, and the litany of medical problems they might get from purchasing a pet from a pet store. The basic difference between pet store/puppy mills and an animal shelter is profit. Shelters are in the business of matching pets with the right prospective owner, not making profits. Pet stores and puppy mills are interested in turning the quickest and biggest profit on their sales and will often push people to make the purchase right then without further consideration and without the ability to return the pet if something is medically wrong.

   

Purebreds- Many people believe that the only way to purchase a purebred dog is through a pet store or breeder. This is not true as purebreds are available on breed specific rescue sites and in shelters. Some shelters estimate that 20- 30% of their shelter animals are purebreds. Online pet rescue sites are available in all states and for most breeds. These breed specific rescue sites are managed by people who are committed to helping maintain the health and happiness of that specific breed, and they are more than willing to be of help in choosing the right pet for the person and their lifestyle.

SAY GOOD BYE TO THE FOOD PYRAMID AND HELLO TO MY PLATE

    For the past few decades, nutritionists in the United States have used and educated the public about proper and healthy eating through use of the Food Pyramid. As almost a third of the U.S. population is now obese, it became apparent that a new approach might be needed to educate the public about healthy eating, food portions, wise nutritional choices, and calories. The newest approach to public nutritional health and education is summarized in the MyPlate concept, and also through the free Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 which are now available online at www.ChooseMyPlate.gov, and www.DietaryGuidelines.gov. Here are some of the healthy eating guidelines summarized from these sources.

    The www.ChooseMyPlate.gov website features practical tips and information for making healthy food choices, shares recipes and help on how to build a successful diet, and includes many resources on consumer nutritional strategies for all age groups. The shape of the plate is divided for easily giving the visual breakdown of the main food groups into dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins. The portions on the plate stresses that half of the plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables. The visual shape of the plate was designed as it’s more familiar within daily U.S. life, and serves as a reminder to eat healthy foods at each meal.

    The www.DietaryGuidelines.gov provides a much larger document that reviews food groups in detail, lends strategies for weight loss, gives overviews of the importance of exercise in combination with a healthy diet, and covers a host of related topics, such as food labels, food tracking, cost calculator, caloric counting for mixed dishes, etc. There are interactive tools on both websites for consumers to use in counting and tracking calories, following daily food plans, calculating the nutritional benefits of foods, and giving other helpful resources for nutritious selections.

    There is a wealth of information, valuable research, and tools to help people of all ages to maintain a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet contained on both websites, and in their references and resources. Here are just a few of the suggestions that you can start using today to eat healthier and feel better.

• Make your grains whole grains
• Go lean with proteins and remove all visible fat and skin
• Drink fat-free or 1% milk
• Vary vegetables and eat more of the darkest ones, such as spinach, beets, yams, etc.
• Reduce or eliminate sodium as it is already present in many prepared foods
• Snack on fruits, vegetables, and beans, such as hummus
• Eat a variety of fruits including berries as they are a great source of antioxidants
• Add beans to your weekly diet for natural fiber
• Cut back or eliminate all processed sugars
• Eat food you like, but in smaller portions
• Take home half of your food from restaurants
• Drink lots of water every day and eliminate sugary drinks such as soda, power drinks, and fruit juices with added sugar
• Eat the right amount of calories for your height, body and age
• Be physically active every day for at least 30 minutes
• Switch from solid fats to healthy oils, such as olive oil or peanut oil, when preparing food
• Choose 100% pure fruit juice instead of fruit juice drinks
• Use a smaller plate for meals, such as a sandwich plate instead of a dinner plate
• Read the food labels for contents, calories, and additives before you buy any food or drinks

DID YOU KNOW?

Did You Know That You Can Get Low or No Cost Consumer Information?

    The useful and prolific information provided for free and low cost from several federal government agencies is available to all U.S. citizens of any age from the GSA Federal Citizen Information Center. Many of the publications are available to read and view online so the consumer doesn’t even have to pay for any postage!

    There are topics for everyone and all ages. The topics covered include many selections for consumer awareness, finances, health, drugs and medicine, education, and employment. Other topical areas included are more specific, such as information on computers, cars, government auctions, home ownership, insurance considerations, home maintenance, food safety, and identity theft.

    There are also very helpful pamphlets and links to agencies for all of the pertinent federal programs, veteran’s benefits, retirement and social security. The pamphlets are arranged into easy to use instructions giving the reader steps to take in filing for Social Security benefits or how to file for a copyright, for a couple of examples. Traveler’s information can be obtained for all of the national parks, and there is even information available for the family pet. From gardening to investments, from developing good credit to laser eye surgery, the federal government has information available to benefit you and your family at low or no cost.

    The user friendly Web site can be accessed for ordering and reading, and the $2.00 processing fee will be deleted if you order the materials online. However, the information pamphlets can also be ordered by a toll-free telephone call, by FAX, or by mailing to the FCIC. All of this information can be accessed online at: www.pueblo.gsa.gov. Have fun with all of your free reading!

HEALTHY SAVINGS THROUGH MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL BILL AUDITING

Hopefully, you will not find yourself with hefty medical bills or overwhelming hospital bills this year. However, if you are in the unenvious position of having to mull over multiple pages of a complicated hospital bill, you might be daunted by the astonishing costs, overwhelmed by the fees for services, and perplexed from the medical codes. In a system as complex as medical billing, general errors are expected to be found, but when recent national research and the U.S. General Accounting Office found that 99% of hospital bills had financial errors, the public obviously needs to be educated regarding and more aware of the over charges for these already costly medical supplies and services.

Since the United States population spends more on healthcare per capita than any other country, it is very important for everyone to have a working knowledge of how hospitals bills are developed and to know the most common billing mistakes that could add significantly to the bottom line of your hospital bill. Here are some of the most common hospital billing errors:

• Billing For Services that Weren’t Received- Since all procedures performed in the hospital will be shown on your bill, it is important to review each one to make sure the service was received. For example, one man was billed for a pulse meter for 57 hours in one day!

   

• Duplicate Bills- A frequent error is to bill twice for the same service on any given day. This may result in being billed for the same anesthesiology service on the physician’s bill as well as on the hospital bill.

   

• Computer Imposed Charges- Most hospitals use some form of automatic billing and coding software that can result in the computer imposing costs for services that were not given. For example, if usually sedation is given during childbirth, a person might be charged for these expenses even if they had a natural childbirth.

   

• Unbundled Related Costs- Medicare law and proper hospital billing procedures require hospitals to bundle related costs for most medical procedures. However, many hospitals have been found to violate these best practices by unbundling costs and billing separately for each part of the procedure. For example, the costs of a bundled tonsillectomy might be only 25% of cost of an unbundled bill for the same surgery if all the pre-surgical exams, anesthesia, medical instruments, etc., were billed separately.

   

• Inflation of Costs- There are so many examples of inflated costs on hospital bills that it is difficult to choose only a few as examples. An itemized hospital bill can be reviewed for “face validity” of charges, such as those questionable charges of $30 for a thermal pack (plastic bag of ice cubes), $75 for a laxative, and $55 dollars for a drug that usually costs less than a dollar.

   

• Incorrect Coding- Because the common citizen doesn’t have training in medical coding, this part of the hospital bill usually goes unchallenged. However, this might actually be the part of the hospital costs that would be most expensive if the incorrect code was used on the bill. For example, the medical costs incurred from a hospital visit for a urinary tract infection would be considerably less than for kidney failure, but these codes could easily be misused without knowledge resulting in much higher medical costs to the individual.

   

Given that the vast majority of medical and hospital bills probably have costly errors, you might wonder what you can do to help assure this overcharging won’t happen to you. Here are some steps you can take in reviewing your medical bills and for helping to reduce your medical costs.

• Request an itemized bill from the hospital.

   

• Review the hospital bill for errors and omissions.

   

• Check with the hospital on the actual number of people present in the operating room, etc., to make sure the numbers reported all agree with the bill.

   

• Check to see if the hospital services have been bundled or unbundled by a review of the charges.

   

• Make sure you received all the procedures, medications, and services listed on the bill.

   

• Hire a Patient Advocate to review your bill for errors and coding issues. Research showed the average person who hired a Patient Advocate to review their hospital bill saved three dollars on every one dollar spent on the audit.

BACK TO SCHOOL ON A BUDGET

    It’s that glorious time of the year when students from pre-K through college are returning to school for a new educational year. For those with school aged children, buying the back to school supplies can be a daunting expense that jumps out of the ordinary budgetary confines for family spending. With a little shopping savvy, some time spent on research, and a few cost containing habits, purchasing back to school supplies can be a fun time that doesn’t break the family budget. Here are some suggestions for breezing through the back to school shopping frenzy:

1. Use Sales: Many retailers have back to school bargains, buy one get one free offers, and sales purchases for necessities which can be found online and in circulars. Some online web sites allow you to compare prices at several vendors for the same purchase item, and others give large discounts for purchasing online. Try www.pricegrabber.com which also calculates shipping and tax costs in addition to comparing base prices.
   

    

2. Use Coupons: Coupons can be found in Sunday newspapers, online at several web sites, and online at web sites for the actual vendors. When combined with sale prices, coupons can save literally hundreds of dollars in school supply expenses. Two web sites that can supply the coupons from newspapers without buying the actual paper can be found at www.SalesCircular.com and www.SundaySaver.com.
   

    

3. Combine Shopping With Others: Often, large discounts are realized when office supplies are bought in large quantities or bulk. Talk to neighbors, siblings, and friends to see if they want to share in purchasing large quantities of computer paper, ink cartridges, etc. to cost save over purchasing in small amounts.
   

    

4. Buy Used Books: One of the greatest expenses for college students and others is purchasing expensive textbooks. Used textbooks of the same edition and author are often available from the college bookstore or from online resources. Some of the web sites that can help save money on used textbooks are www.Amazon.com, and www.SmartBargains.com.
   

    

5. Pack Lunches: Unless you are offered a free lunch, getting healthy food for lunch for you or children is often a challenge. Buying lunch every day can be quite expensive over time. Using grocery coupons, buying in bulk, and shopping the grocery sales can all help to limit the costs of providing lunches at school. Shopping at local farmers markets and farm stands can also save money and provide healthy produce for lunches.
   

    

6. Take A Course On Using Coupons: Many more people are using coupons and targeted buying for realizing extensive costs savings in their personal budgets. There is a web site that offers classes on how to maximize your buying power with coupons at www.CouponClasses.com. Other web sites that are popular with coupon savers include www.SavvyStudentShopper.com, www.DealSeekingMom.com, and www.TotallyTarget.com.