“Your Healthcare. Your Choice.”

by Shain Waugh

What is it?

Bipolar is a mental illness classified as a manic-depressive disorder. This brain disorder causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. The symptoms of bipolar disorder have been known to be extremely severe in coping challenges. The severe condition tend to affect personal relationships, jobs, academic performance, and even suicide.

About 5.7 million American adults ages 18 and older are affected by this disorder any given year. The disorder usually develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, some people have their first symptoms during childhood, and some develop them late in life. It is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person’s life.

Symptoms

Manic
• Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
• Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood
• Extreme irritability
• Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
• Distractibility, can’t concentrate well

Depression
• acting sad, anxious, or empty mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

Causes

Episodes of mania and depression typically recur across the life span. Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but as many as one-third of people have some residual symptoms. A small percentage of people experience chronic unremitting symptoms despite treatment.
The classic form of the illness, which involves recurrent episodes of mania and depression, is called bipolar I disorder. Some people, however, never develop severe mania but instead experience milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression; this form of the illness is called bipolar II disorder. When four or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month period, a person is said to have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Some people experience multiple episodes within a single week, or even within a single day. Rapid cycling tends to develop later in the course of illness and is more common among women than among men.

Results & treatments

Results from a new analysis of two major clinical trials have shown that patients with bipolar disorder who received long-term treatment with SEROQUEL plus a mood stabiliser were significantly less likely to have a mood event than patients on a mood stabiliser alone. The data, which highlight the potential of SEROQUEL for maintenance therapy of patients with bipolar I disorder, were presented on Sunday, 27 January 2008 at the 3rd Biennial Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) in Delhi, India.

Treatment
According to experts, “Bipolar disorder is a chronic, lifelong illness and patients suffer frequent relapses when they can become depressed or manic. Maintenance therapy is an important part of managing these patients and can offer long-term relief from these recurrences,” said Professor Eduard Vieta, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Spain. “Our analysis of data from more than a thousand patients suggest the potential of treatment regimens which include SEROQUEL along with a mood stabiliser to reduce the likelihood of mood events.”

Long-term treatment with SEROQUEL was generally well tolerated - the most commonly reported adverse events in patients treated with SEROQUEL plus a mood stabiliser during the randomised treatment phase were headache (7.4%), nasopharyngitis (7.1%) and upper respiratory tract infection (6.7%). The most common adverse events during the open-label stabilisation phase were sedation (23.8%), somnolence (18.7%), dry mouth (16.5%) and weight increase (13.9%). The analysis also showed a greater incidence of fasting blood glucose increases to hyperglycaemic levels.

References

1. Brecher M, et al. Quetiapine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder: combined data from two long-term phase III studies. Presented at the Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Delhi, India, 27-30 January, 2008.

2. Vieta E, et al. Efficacy and safety of quetiapine in combination with lithium/divalproex as maintenance treatment for bipolar I disorder. Presented at the Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Delhi, India, 27-30 January, 2008.

3. Suppes T, et al. Maintenance treatment in bipolar I disorder with quetiapine concomitant with lithium or divalproex: a placebo-controlled, randomized multicenter trial. Presented at the Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Delhi, India, 27-30 January, 2008.

4. www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/default.htm

by Shain Waugh

General Consumer

The cost of health care in the United States of America is continue to rise. With the integration of health retail clinics into the health care community, has saved the general consumer millions of dollar by simply staying out of the emergency room. Most clinics accept insurance, walk-ins, and for simple procedures patients are usually seen within 15 minutes.

The general consumer’s view of healthcare is changing on a globalized scale. The consumer is expecting more information access, embracing globalize medical tourism, better access to medical facilities, and improved customer service. The health care industry has responed strongly to the demands and desired trends of the community by integrating retail health centers in shopping malls, grocery stores, and pharmacies. The availability of such clinics have created a new business market for the general consumer, in turn, empowering the general public decision on healthcare.

Changing the System

In the changing of the systems, the clinic are orchastrated by nurse practitioners, which are nurses with advanced degrees who can write prescriptions. The salary of a nurse practitioners is usually half the cost of an internal medicine physician. The clinics are typically open 7 days a week and patient, 15 minute visit, and prescriptions can be obtained prior to leaving the facility.

Embracing Change

The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which opposes retail clinics as a source of medical care for children of all ages, have issued similar guidelines related to retail clinics. All three organizations are particularly concerned about increased fragmentation of care.

The three association recommends that its 100,000 plus physician to expand office offer, embrace same-day appointment, and take part in the general community in order to compete with the retail clinics. The health systems currently face a few options in embracing retail clinics. The options entail either medical facilities choose not to become competitive or find methods to integrate into the retail clinic arena.

Summing Up

As retail health centers continue to evolve, and as more organizations test the market, multiple clinical and business models will provide health care organizations the opportunity to evaluate alternatives. Rather than viewing retail clinics as a threat, hospital and other medical facilities leaders should view the clinics as revolution for health care.

According to Forbes magazine, medical tourism will be a $40 billion industry by 2010. This is a promising illustration of how people concerned with rising health care cost are able to manage their health care crisis. The soaring medical cost in America are forcing Americans to travel abroad for elective and/or major surgeries. The abroad physicians and hospitals are willing to conduct procedures at 10% to 30% of the cost in America. Its estimate that 750,000 Americans traveled abroad for medical care in 2007.

Medical Cost in U.S. versus Other Countries:

• Bone Marrow transplant $ 400,000 versus $30,000*
• Liver Transplant $500,000 versus $40,000*
• Heart-valve Replacement $200,000 versus $10,000*
• Open Heart Surgery $50,000 versus $44,400*
• Neurosurgery $29,000 versus $8,000*
• Knee Surgery $16,000 versus $4,500*
• Metal Dental Bridge $5,500 versus $500*
• Full Face Lift $20,000 versus $ 1,250*

*South Africa, India, and Thailand.

There are an array of medical tourism companies that assist travels find the hospital, clinics, or medical facilities that find the desired procedure. These hospitals are accredited under the international arms of JCAHO, which also regulates U.S. hospitals. Medical tourism presents important concerns and challenges as well as potential opportunities. This trend will have a significant impact on the health care landscape in industrialized and developing countries around the world.

India has been known for their rejuvenating treatments such as yoga and ayurvedic massage, but the quality of their heart by-pass surgery has draw the attention of many throughout the world. According to economist, for the cost of a face lift in the U.S., one can due the following

• Passport U.S. $ 130
• Indian Visiting Visa $ 150
• Flight to India $1,500
• Hotel (6-10 day) $1,000
• Accommodations $1,000
• Face Lift $1,250

Total $ 5,010
Savings $14,990 (approximately)

The most significant aspect of undergoing treatment in India is the low cost compared to either the U.S.A. or Britain. There is a great deal of money that’s saved with medical tourism such as 60% over the normal cost. The treatments includes the procedure, treatment, transportation, and hospital stay as illustrated above. It appears that India found a significant niche in improving its economy, visitors, and technological health integrations with medical tourism.