Do It For The Kittens!

This is a great infographic illustrating what we all stand to lose from just one, albeit extraordinary website, Wikipedia, if the misguided, benighted Congress decides to kowtow to the movie and music industries.

Please note that the Cheezburger Network, the definitive source of all things feline adorable, is blacked out today and could be gone…forever!

Created by: Online University

Appeals court backs Obama healthcare law | Reuters

This news report was just published - Appeals court backs Obama healthcare law | Reuters:

This means that President Obama's healthcare law got a bit closer to becoming a real reality.

I went without health coverage for more than 20 years for myself and my son. Fortunately, we come from hearty, healthy stock and suffered no illnesses, broken bones, or other health catastrophes. Because I didn't have health insurance, I did everything possible to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle for both of us with plenty of exercise and the best diet possible, sometimes on as little as $25 per week.

I'm a big believer in Obama as well as the healthcare mandates. It doesn't mean that those who absolutely cannot afford to pay for health insurance will go without, but it sure as shootin' will go a long way toward ending personal abuse of the health systems by people who can afford some form of health insurance.

I also believe that not only is it time for people to truly take control of their health in every way, that this will be a big incentive toward doing exactly that, adopting a healthier lifestyle, less dependence on letting a pill or a surgery replace common sense, salads, and exercise.

In my life, all the people who have had insurance are the ones in poor health and on multiple medications. What's up with that?!

Perhaps you think this is a superficial attitude, that I'm ignoring multiple "important issues," but, seriously, how about shedding the complications and conditions, employing some common sense and a clear eye, and seeing how that works.

In the meantime, everyone who can should be contributing to their health and those who *truly* are unable, instead of always looking for hand-outs from "the government." The "government" is us, yes, U.S. We need to reclaim the qualities and virtues that the people who built and made this country what it is and apply them to making US great again.

Form & Function

"When the form changes, so does the underlying business model, which of course changes the function as well."

Seth Godin is scary brilliant and, it seems, prescient as he seems to write so eloquently about what I'm thinking. So, when I read Form and Function, it rang so true for what we are working to build.

Not only are we working to change the form to make health histories engaging, dynamic, accessible, and relevant for their owners, you! But, in doing this, we are flipping the model and the way that health histories function at a very basic level in the relationship between health consumer and health professionals.

The Crazy Ones

I've been an Apple Fangirl since 1992, never considering buying anything but Apple products since. But, I was a fan of Steve Jobs well before. I've always loved and identified with the perceived underdogs who are really the true winners in life. Having the courage of your convictions and pursuing the realization of them is the greatest rush and reward possible. So, this is our little tribute to Steve...in his own words. It's also a bit of explanation why we are pursuing the development of Caduces to put people truly in control of their health data.

Health Identity Theft Is An Inside Job

PriceWaterhouse Coopers has released a new report that details exactly the risks involved in entrusting your medical professionals to safeguard some of the most private information in your life - PwC: Health industry under-prepared to protect privacy | Healthcare IT News:

Most are completely unaware of the dangers associated with medical identity theft or with errors in one's medical records. These will only be magnified as medical practices, insurers, and hospitals share more and more information that is easily accessible by employees who don't have your best interests at heart.

It's bad enough that errors in handwriting or data input result in more than 100,000 deaths in the US annually. But, people using your identity can run up huge bills in stolen health care. Imagine what that can result in when you're admitted into a hospital through an emergency room and they proceed with treatment based on someone else's medical profile associated with your name! Imagine what that can do to your credit rating. Your ability to get future health coverage, approval for a mortgage, or even get a job are all impacted.

We believe one way to safeguard against these possibilities is to manage your own health histories. Take control of your health!

If you think this is important, take a moment to go to Caduces.net to register for updates on our progress in our building the solution for this.

Care about Your Care

On September 1st, a month long campaign was launched thanks to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Care About Your Care to help individuals learn what quality health care is, look for the right care for themselves and their families, and live better by engaging more closely in their own health care. It's part of ongoing efforts to provide resources to help us understand the importance, the necessity for taking control of our health in every way you can think of and to take action. It's all about improving health care quality.

Please take a few moments to visit Care About Your Care to learn more about why you need to care about getting the for yourself and your family members.

That's what we're all about here at Caduces. Helping you take control of your health is critical not only to your health, but to everyone in your family now and in the future generations!

Because Data Is Power.

Seth Godin's blog post earlier today When Ideas Become Powerful explores what happens when certain people perceive something, e.g. property, interstate commerce, ideas, and data, as powerful. The first inclination is to find a way to take ownership, regulate, and take control of whatever is perceived as valuable and powerful.

As we watch events unfold in the healthcare arena with medical professionals and, more importantly, medical CIOs weighing in about who should control and manage the data of the people who seek medical care, their health customers, it becomes very clear that there is a tremendous effort to retain control of 'patient' data. There is an entire litany of reasons/excuses for keeping and managing 'patient' data in much the same way as always. In other words, it you want your data, you have to ask the medical service providers and successfully negotiate their gatekeepers.

Seriously! This data is about you and you shared it with your health professionals, but do you think they really should exert ownership over it and prevent access?

Meanwhile, it is openly acknowledged that security is not a priority for hospitals and that there are as many as 300,000 deaths annually in the U.S. as a result of poor handwriting and/or errors in directions.

Can someone explain this because I just don't get it.








So, why are there so many tech companies working so hard to build applications for health service providers to convert and maintain their records electronically? Because this has been made a requirement, so there's a captive market. However, does that mean it's going to be easier for the health consumer to get a complete record of health data? Mmmm, not necessarily....

So, we're still going to be dealing with the same challenges tomorrow as you are today! Why are we so seemingly complacent about allowing stranger to control our health data? I'll let you answer that for yourself....

We at Caduces are working diligently to offer an alternative to put health consumers in control of their health and health data that will also foster a collaborative relationship with your health professionals for yourself and everyone in your family.

If you are excited about the potential for taking control of your health, please visit Caduces.net and register to be eligible to be a Beta tester and please share this with family and friends.

It's the evolution of health information management that puts health consumers in control!