A new option for medical care is now available in International Falls.

Falls.MD officials this week announced the new business is accepting new patients ÔÇö women, men, boys, girls, newborns, seniors, and expectant mothers ÔÇö in its office located at 1580 Highway 71.

Led by a board-certified family physician, Dr. Eric F. Koperda, the practice specializes in rural family medicine, according to a news release.

ÔÇ£Rural family doctors are a good fit for remote communities like International Falls, where the sub-specialists are hundreds of miles away,ÔÇØ Koperda said. ÔÇ£Nobody in town is thrilled about driving to Bemidji and Duluth for tests and procedures. Is all that travel worth the effort? What if we could avoid the drive?ÔÇØ

Falls.MD offers direct primary care, a model where the same doctor takes care of the patient when theyÔÇÖre well and when theyÔÇÖre sick, when patients walk to the office and when theyÔÇÖre too weak to get out of bed. The practice offers same-day appointments, video conference visits, and house calls. Imagine a doctor being available when needed, not five weeks later at his next open appointment slot, the release said.

The direct part of direct primary care arises from the direct relationship between patient and doctor at Falls.MD.

ÔÇ£Government bureaucrats, insurance companies, and other middlemen are not welcome in our exam rooms,ÔÇØ Koperda said in the release. ÔÇ£Nobody gets a vote about what care may be medically necessary except the doctor, the patient, and her loved ones.ÔÇØ

Instead of kowtowing to myriad health plans and their limitations, the release said Falls.MD offers affordable cash prices posted right at the front door. Most patients at Falls.MD have health insurance, but they discover they donÔÇÖt need to use their health insurance at Falls.MD. Their insurance card stays in their pocket, ready in case of serious illness or emergency, but not needed everyday.

ÔÇ£Primary care can be affordable,ÔÇØ Koperda said. ÔÇ£Often our prices are lower than if you tried to use your insurance benefits at a competing practice. Falls.MD is a good match for those enrolled in health-sharing ministries, those with high-deductible health plans, and those without health insurance.ÔÇØ

Doctors are enthusiastic about direct primary care for several reasons, the release said. They donÔÇÖt have to file insurance claims, which has become a major expense in doctorsÔÇÖ private practice. Insurance companies are totally out of the picture. They canÔÇÖt dictate how many times a patient can see their doctor. They canÔÇÖt dictate which doctor the patient sees. If a patient needs to be monitored weekly, or even daily, that is between the patient and their doctor. Being closely monitored results in fewer hospital visits. And, with lower overhead expenses, the doctor doesnÔÇÖt have to see as many patients per day. That means the patient ÔÇô and the doctor ÔÇô arenÔÇÖt rushed.

At Falls.MD, single visits start at just $79. Subscriptions cost $49 monthly for adults, less for children. Confidential meet-and-greets with the doctor are free.

ÔÇ£Compare our prices to your auto mechanic, your plumber, your cell phone bill, or your insurance premiumsÔÇØ said Koperda.

Koperda joined the International Falls community about two years ago; he said he enjoyed the people and the northland so much he decided to stay. Before Falls.MD,he practiced at Rainy Lake Medical Center, he said. He also was an assistant professor at West Virginia University.

Koperda plays cello with local orchestras and he is building a homestead and farm near Ericsburg. He studied medicine at the University of Cincinnati and later learned the specialty of rural family medicine in Ohio and West Virginia. He is board-certified in family medicine.

Call 283-2444 for an appointment or visit www.falls.md for more information.

Source: ifallsjournal.com

BANTAENG ÔÇô┬áDinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Bantaeng, kini sedang gencar mensosialisasikan program surveilans kesehatan berbasis sekolah.

Sosialisasi tersebut sebagai tindak lanjut usai program diluncurkan beberapa waktu lalu di Aula Dinkes Bantaeng, Jl Andi Mannappiang, Kecamatan Bantaeng, Kabupaten Bantaeng, Sulawesi Selatan.

Pengelola Program Surveilance Dinas Kesehatan Bantaeng, Sumarti, pun secara rutin keliling dari puskesmas satu ke puskesmas lainnya untuk sosialisasi program tersebut.

Para kepala sekolah yang jadi incaran program tersebit dihadirkan untuk diberi pemahaman secara langsung terkait maksud dan tujuan dari program inovasi terbaru Dinkes Bantaeng itu.

ÔÇ£Kami harap dengan adanya kegiatan ini secara umum bisa mendeteksi kasus kasus penyakit yang ada di Bantaeng secara dini sehingga dapat ditangani secara cepat,ÔÇØ ujarnya kepada┬áTribunBantaeng.com, Selasa (6/2/2018).

Selain itu, upaya sosialisasi juga sebagai wadah untuk menyamakan persepsi pengetahuan antarkomponen yang ada dalam sistem surveilans berbasis sekolah baik Dinkes, Puskesmas, dan pihak sekolah yang bersangkutan.

ÔÇ£Dengan survailance kesehatan, penyakit yang diderita oleh anak sekolah itu bisa terdeteksi, serta mendapat penanganan yang cepat dan tepat,ÔÇØ tuturnya.

Program tersebut adalah terobosan dari Dinkes Bantaeng setelah Terminal Darah Puskesmas, Kader Kesehatan, PSC Goes To Community, PSC Goes To School, Program 1 Bidan 1 Dusun, dan Tokoh Agama Promosi Kesehatan.(*)

Sumber: tribunnews.com

TANGERANG ÔÇö Puskesmas Pondok Bahar, Kota Tangerang yang baru saja direnovasi menyediakan instalasi kesehatan jiwa yang bisa dimanfaatkan masyarakat untuk konsultasi masalah kejiwaan. Puskesmas dua lantai yang berada di Kecamatan Karang Tengah ini selain memiliki fasilias rawat inap, juga memiliki layanan fasilitas Gigi, BP Umum, BP Balita, ruang kesehatan lingkungan, ambulans gratis.

Wakil Wali Kota Tangerang, Sachrudin yang menghadiri acara peresmian Puskesmas di Kelurahan Pondok Bahar, Kecamatan Karang Tengah mengharapkan dengan dibukanya Puskesmas di Pondok Bahar, masyarakat di sekitar wilayah tersebut dapat terakses layanan kesehatan secara optimal. ÔÇ£Diharapkan agar semua masyarakat terlayani akan adanya fasilitas ini,ÔÇØ ujar dia dalam keterangan tertulis, Ahad (28/1).

Selain meresmikan puskesmas, Sachrudin juga meresmikan kantor kelurahan Pondok Bahar, Pasar Lingkungan, dan Lapangan Futsal di Pondok Bahar. Dengan total anggaran di tahun 2017 sebesar 36 milyar untuk pembangunan sejumlah fasilitas di wilayah Kecamatan Karang Tengah. 

Sachrudin juga meminta agar masyarakat bisa terlibat lebih dalam pembangunan kota, dan itu menurut Sachrudin bisa dimuli dengan ikut menjaga hasil-hasil pembangunan yang telah dilakukan. 

ÔÇ£Peranan masyarakat begitu besar untuk pembangunan Kota Tangerang,ÔÇØ kata dia.

Sumber: republika.co.id

Puskesmas Kronjo kabupaten Tangerang terus memberikan penanganan khusus bagi warganya, terutama penanganan kesehatan terhadap anak dan balita. Dari data yang pihaknya punya, ada 25 balita yang mengalami gizi kurang, namun semua balita itu sudah diberikan penanganan khusus sampai saat ini.

Kepala Puskesmas Kronjo, Rasidi menjelaskan, pihaknya terus fokus dalam menangani kesehatan status gizi terhadap balita dan anak yang berasa di wilayah Kronjo. Seperti yang saat ini masih diberikan penanganan khusus oleh pihaknya terhadap Mahesa (13) yang bertempat tinggal di Desa Kronjo, Kecamata Kronjo, Kabupaten Tangerang.

ÔÇ£Kita sudah melakulan penanganan terhadap status kesehatan atau gizi Mahesa, karena status Mahesa ini sudah bukan balita lagi namun masuk ke katagori anak karena usianya sudah 13 tahun, jadi penanganan status gizinya tetap dan pengecekan berat badan dan tinggi badan. Adik maesa ini juga mengalami gangguan tuna bicara dan retardasi mental (RM), jadi kami memberikan penanganan khusus terhadap Mahesa dan kita juga sudah memberikan rujukan ke rumah sakit untuk memberika penanganan lebih khusus terhadap adik Mahesa,ÔÇØ terangnya kepada awak media, Sabtu (27/1/2018).

Pihaknya sudah beberpa bulan memberikan penanganan khusus terhadap Mahesa, dari penanganan khusus yang diberikan pihaknya, Mahesa pun mengalami sedikit perkembangan kesehatan dan gizinya.

ÔÇ£Penanganan khusus yang kami terapkan terhadap adik Mahesa pada beberapa bulan terakhir ini, Alhamdulillah ada perkembangan, dan sekarang adik Mahesa sudah mulai mau makan, karena sebelumnya pola makan dari adik Mahesa ada gangguan,ÔÇØ ujarnya.

Ia juga membeberkan status gizi dari Mahesa, karena dalan beberapa hari lalu Mahesa sempat diisukan mengalami gizi buruk, ia membantah akan isu yang beredar yang menimpa Mahesa.

ÔÇ£Untuk status gizi adik Mahesa masuk kedalam katagori gizi kurang atau mall nutrisi dan gangguan retardasi mental (RM), sekali lagi saya tegaskan gizi kurang bukan gizi buruk,ÔÇØ tegasnya.

Sementara itu Camat Kronjo Asmawi menambahkan hal yang senada, pihaknya terakhir menangani penderita gizi buruk pada bulan Oktober tahun lalu. Itu sudah ditangani atau diberikan penanganan khusus oleh pihaknya dan sudah terselesaikan atas nama adik Yusuf.

ÔÇ£Sekarang yang tercatat di kami ialah gizi kurang bukan gizi buruk,ÔÇØ tegasnya.

Pihaknya pun akan melakukan langkah-langkah untuk terus menanggulangi masalah kesehatan di wilayahnya.

ÔÇ£Kami sudah mempunyai program kesehatan dibagian PKK di Pokja 4, yang mana Pokja 4 ini mempunyai tugas untuk terus memberikan pemahaman kepada masyarakat khususnya kepada si ibu terhadap pola makan yang baik yang masuk kedalam standar gizi,ÔÇØ ujarnya.

Selain itu, pihaknya juga akan terus mbenahi infrastruktur dan bangunan rumah warga untuk menyongkong kesehatan warga.

Tak hanya itu, pihaknya dalam langkah kedepan akan melakukan rapat ke seluruh Kepala Desa pada saat Musrembang agar dibuat anggaran khusus untuk menangani kesehatan terhadap masyarakat.

ÔÇ£Pada rapat Musrembang nanti, saya akan melakukan pembahasan dengan seluruh Kepala Desa untuk mengalokasikan sedikit dana desa untuk bagian kesehatan,ÔÇØ Asmawi menandaskan. (Yan)

Sumber: tangerangonline.id

By Mike Fa­her, VT­Dig­ger.org

If state leg­is­la­tors needed a cheer­ing sec­tion for en­act­ing uni­ver­sal pri­mary health care, they got one Tues­day night.

Dur­ing a pub­lic hear­ing jointly hosted by the House Health Care and Sen­ate Health and Wel­fare com­mit­tees, more than 50 peo­ple ex­pressed sup­port for a pub­licly funded health plan that would pro­vide pri­mary care for all.

The fi­nanc­ing and ad­min­is­tra­tive de­tails of such a plan have yet to be worked out. But law­mak­ers said the sto­ries they heard dur­ing two and a half hours of tes­ti­mony re­in­forced the need for a more ac­ces­si­ble pri­mary care sys­tem.

ÔÇ£Hear┬¡ing peo┬¡pleÔÇÖs sto┬¡ries is, in my view, one of the most pow┬¡er┬¡ful mo┬¡ti┬¡va┬¡tors for every┬¡one, re┬¡gard┬¡less of what your po┬¡lit┬¡i┬¡cal per┬¡sua┬¡sion is,ÔÇØ said Rep. Bill Lip┬¡pert, D-Hi┬¡nes┬¡burg and House Health Care┬áCom┬¡mit┬¡tee┬áchair┬¡man.

The mem┬¡ory of past health care re┬¡form fail┬¡ures hung over Tues┬¡dayÔÇÖs hear┬¡ing in the crowded┬áHouse┬ácham┬¡ber.

Sev┬¡eral speak┬¡ers ex┬¡pressed bit┬¡ter dis┬¡ap┬¡point┬¡ment over the lack of fol┬¡low-through on┬áAct 48, the 2011 law that laid a foun┬¡da┬¡tion for uni┬¡ver┬¡sal health care, and for┬¡mer Gov. Pe┬¡ter Shum┬¡linÔÇÖs 2014┬áde┬¡ci┬¡sion to drop pur┬¡suit of sin┬¡gle-payer┬áhealth┬ácare.

ÔÇ£We have had var┬¡i┬¡ous im┬¡pulses to┬¡ward get┬¡ting health care for all Ver┬¡mon┬¡ters,ÔÇØ said Mar┬¡jorie Power of Mont┬¡pe┬¡lier. ÔÇ£Every sin┬¡gle time we have choked. ThereÔÇÖs al┬¡ways┬ásome┬áex┬¡cuse.ÔÇØ

Power said itÔÇÖs be┬¡come clear that ÔÇ£we can┬¡not, with a two-year Leg┬¡is┬¡la┬¡ture and (gov┬¡er┬¡nor), do it all in one bite. It will just be choke,┬áchoke,┬áchoke.ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£Here we are with the pos┬¡si┬¡bil┬¡ity of tak┬¡ing a ma┬¡jor first step,ÔÇØ┬áshe┬áadded.

She was re┬¡fer┬¡ring to a plan, es┬¡poused in┬áS.53┬áand┬áH.248, to es┬¡tab┬¡lish a pub┬¡licly funded sys┬¡tem that would ÔÇ£en┬¡sure that all Ver┬¡mon┬¡ters have ac┬¡cess to pri┬¡mary health care with┬¡out fac┬¡ing fi┬¡nan┬¡cial bar┬¡ri┬¡ers that would dis┬¡cour┬¡age them from seek┬¡ing┬ánec┬¡es┬¡sary┬ácare.ÔÇØ

Both bills were in┬¡tro┬¡duced early in the 2017 ses┬¡sion. At Tues┬¡dayÔÇÖs hear┬¡ing, there was strong sup┬¡port for that leg┬¡is┬¡la┬¡tion to┬ámove┬áfor┬¡ward.

Pa┬¡tri┬¡cia Reid of Ad┬¡di┬¡son said she re┬¡ceives vi┬¡tal care from her pri┬¡mary care doc┬¡tor. But she also de┬¡scribed her┬¡self as ÔÇ£un┬¡der┬¡in┬¡sured,ÔÇØ mean┬¡ing, ÔÇ£I do not ac┬¡cess care when I need it due to┬áfi┬¡nan┬¡cial┬ábar┬¡ri┬¡ers.ÔÇØ

By en┬¡act┬¡ing uni┬¡ver┬¡sal pri┬¡mary care, ÔÇ£we would cre┬¡ate sta┬¡bil┬¡ity that would take away the un┬¡fair ques┬¡tions that I and many peo┬¡ple like me have to ask,ÔÇØ┬áReid┬ásaid.

Kaiya An┬¡drews of Wa┬¡ter┬¡bury ÔÇô wear┬¡ing the red┬áVer┬¡mont Work┬¡ersÔÇÖ Cen┬¡ter┬áT-shirt that was com┬¡mon at Tues┬¡dayÔÇÖs hear┬¡ing ÔÇô said she is a dis┬¡abled par┬¡ent who has been un┬¡able to find a doc┬¡tor who will┬átreat┬áher.

ÔÇ£We need to have uni┬¡ver┬¡sal health care for all hu┬¡mankind, not just the ones that are easy to fix,ÔÇØ┬áAn┬¡drews┬ásaid.

Ellen Schwartz of Brat­tle­boro said she has good in­sur­ance, and it has al­lowed her to re­ceive prompt, con­sis­tent treat­ment of re­cur­ring skin can­cer.

ÔÇ£This is great for me,ÔÇØ Schwartz said. ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs how our health care sys┬¡tem should work ÔÇô but not just for me. It should work like that┬áfor┬áevery┬¡body.ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£Our hu┬¡man┬¡ity should be the sole qual┬¡i┬¡fier for ac┬¡cess to health care in┬¡clud┬¡ing, but not lim┬¡ited to, pri┬¡mary care,ÔÇØ she added. ÔÇ£It is sim┬¡ply un┬¡ac┬¡cept┬¡able that some┬¡one like me wins the health care lot┬¡tery while oth┬¡ers suf┬¡fer or┬áeven┬ádie.ÔÇØ

Dr. Al┬¡lan Ram┬¡say, a for┬¡mer Green Moun┬¡tain Care Board mem┬¡ber who serves as med┬¡ical di┬¡rec┬¡tor of the Peo┬¡pleÔÇÖs Health and Well┬¡ness Clinic in Barre, said many of the pa┬¡tients he sees suf┬¡fer from ÔÇ£un┬¡di┬¡ag┬¡nosed and un┬¡man┬¡agedÔÇØ con┬¡di┬¡tions ÔÇ£due to lack of in┬¡sur┬¡ance or ac┬¡cess to ba┬¡sic┬áhealth┬áser┬¡vices.ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£The sim┬¡ple and log┬¡i┬¡cal truth is that we do not ex┬¡pect our car in┬¡sur┬¡ance to pay for the gas we need to run it,ÔÇØ Ram┬¡say said. ÔÇ£We should not have to rely on in┬¡sur┬¡ance to pro┬¡vide the pri┬¡mary care that we all need to┬ástay┬áhealthy.ÔÇØ

There was ex­ten­sive tes­ti­mony not only about the need for bet­ter pri­mary care, but also about the ben­e­fits.

The pend┬¡ing leg┬¡is┬¡la┬¡tion says uni┬¡ver┬¡sal pri┬¡mary care would ÔÇ£re┬¡duce sys┬¡temwide spend┬¡ing,ÔÇØ in part be┬¡cause ÔÇ£bet┬¡ter ac┬¡cess to pri┬¡mary care re┬¡duces the need for emer┬¡gency room vis┬¡its and┬áhos┬¡pi┬¡tal┬áad┬¡mis┬¡sions.ÔÇØ

Ten┬¡zin Chophel, a crit┬¡i┬¡cal care and car┬¡di┬¡ol┬¡ogy nurse at the┬áUni┬¡ver┬¡sity of Ver┬¡mont Med┬¡ical Cen┬¡ter, said ÔÇ£pri┬¡mary care┬áis┬álife-sav┬¡ing.ÔÇØ

Too of┬¡ten, when Chophel en┬¡coun┬¡ters a pa┬¡tient at the hos┬¡pi┬¡tal, ÔÇ£what they tell me is that they havenÔÇÖt seen a doc┬¡tor in years,┬ádecades,┬áever.ÔÇØ

Dr. Sue Deppe, a Colch┬¡ester psy┬¡chi┬¡a┬¡trist who also was rep┬¡re┬¡sent┬¡ing the Ver┬¡mont Psy┬¡chi┬¡atric As┬¡so┬¡ci┬¡a┬¡tion, told law┬¡mak┬¡ers that ÔÇ£un┬¡treated men┬¡tal ill┬¡ness, sub┬¡stance abuse and un┬¡treated med┬¡ical (con┬¡di┬¡tions) take an enor┬¡mous toll on so┬¡ci┬¡ety. And you see it┬áin┬ábud┬¡gets.ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£Uni┬¡ver┬¡sal pri┬¡mary care is in┬¡ex┬¡pen┬¡sive,ÔÇØ Deppe said. ÔÇ£The pay┬¡off┬áis┬áenor┬¡mous.ÔÇØ

Deppe would get no ar­gu­ment from Sen. Claire Ayer, D-Ad­di­son and chair­woman of Sen­ate Health and Wel­fare.

ÔÇ£I think weÔÇÖve proved that itÔÇÖs valu┬¡able,ÔÇØ Ayer said. ÔÇ£We just have to fig┬¡ure out how to stand it up in a way that makes sense, and that we┬ácan┬áman┬¡age.ÔÇØ

The key ques­tions for uni­ver­sal pri­mary care, Ayer said, are ad­min­is­tra­tion and fi­nanc­ing. Nei­ther bill spec­i­fies a fi­nanc­ing mech­a­nism for uni­ver­sal pri­mary care.

Ayer down┬¡played the sig┬¡nif┬¡i┬¡cance of po┬¡ten┬¡tially levy┬¡ing new taxes to pay for the pro┬¡gram. ÔÇ£I think itÔÇÖs more like an in┬¡vest┬¡ment rather than a new tax,ÔÇØ┬áshe┬ásaid.

Lip┬¡pert could┬¡nÔÇÖt haz┬¡ard a guess on how far ei┬¡ther uni┬¡ver┬¡sal pri┬¡mary care bill will ad┬¡vance be┬¡fore the cur┬¡rent leg┬¡isla┬¡tive┬ábi┬¡en┬¡nium┬áends.

ÔÇ£I know that, over time, change can hap┬¡pen. It re┬¡quires a vi┬¡sion and per┬¡sis┬¡tence,ÔÇØ Lip┬¡pert said af┬¡ter Tues┬¡dayÔÇÖs hear┬¡ing. ÔÇ£I re┬¡main hope┬¡ful that we can find our way to health care for all in Ver┬¡mont. What we can achieve this year, weÔÇÖll have┬áto┬ásee.ÔÇØ

Source: bartonchronicle.com