Medical Alert devices are electronic gadgets worn on your body to alert your family, friends and doctor in case of a medical emergency. They are normally meant for senior citizens, but they are equally crucial for all those who suffer from serious and debilitating diseases like cardiovascular conditions, asthma, allergies, neurological problems, epilepsy, fainting, blindness and numerous other medical conditions.

Medical Alert devices come in many shapes and designs. They may be in the form of buttons, necklaces, bracelets, pendants or wristwatches. They may have designer shapes. They may be made of precious metals like silver or gold, or come in practical shapes without any attention to their aesthetic appearance. Image-conscious wearers usually go in for these devices in form of fashionable (medical) jewelry, which is less likely to advertise their medical problems to others.

Since wearing these devices is often a medical necessity, one has to be careful before deciding which device is best suited to their type of disease. The simplest form of these devices are manufactured as jewelry items with the medical history of the patient, along with telephone numbers of his family and doctor, engraved on them. But far more useful than these are the jewelry items fitted with sensors and electronic mechanisms that activate the transmission system installed within, and connect to telephone lines or radio frequencies to contact the patient’s family, friends, and doctor, and also summon medical assistance. These devices contain the medical identity of the patient and the history of his disease so the critical time in diagnosing is not wasted.

Considering the millions of people the world over suffering from different medical problems, the market is awash with fashionable designer medical jewelry meant for these persons. Therefore, one must be cautious before spending money on them. It would be better to seek the advice of one’s doctor before deciding which device suits your medical condition. These devices are sophisticated, and likely to be costly and beyond the reach of ordinary persons. But if a thorough search is made through the Internet, Yellow Pages or other sources, cheaper but equally useful accessories can be bought. Care should also be taken about the reputation of the manufacturing company with regard to the product quality, guarantee of its effectiveness and after-sales service.

Even while our parents are still living independently in their home without aid of caregivers it may be helpful to investigate giving them (and yourself) a little additional piece of mind by “hiring” a medical alert system. You have probably seen the television commercials for a well-known medical alert system and understand the basic concept which consists of a wristband or necklace and a transmitter unit powered with electricity. If you were to fall or had a medical emergency – press the button on the necklace or wristband and an alert call is made to the company supplying your system, but research indicates that while the basic system concept remains relatively consistent there are vast differences in Costs, Contracts and Customer Service.

Two companies were reviewed, Life Alert and MedScope America with the following results. They both provide medical alert systems almost identical in size, shape and function. Where the difference becomes apparent is with costs, contracts and customer service. While both companies offer glowing testimonials on their websites, a simple Google search also revealed a large group of unhappy “testimonials” for Life Alert, some which resulted in lawsuits being filed. They had no comment on the telephone when asked about the customer complaints and when reading the testimonials it became obvious there are issues with the demand for a 3-year contract, high installation cost at $300 and additional $40-50 per month rental fee. Add that to the perception of “unresponsiveness” to vital calls and in my opinion it stacks up against them. MedScope America presents the typical glowing testimonials and also the unexpected bonus of allowing me to contact their customers. Four customers were contacted and I again received great comments. In addition there were two other individuals I knew personally using this service and they added kudos for MedScope. MedScope does not charge an installation fee (zero), there is no 3-year contract, monitoring fee is $35 per month, equipment is loaned free-of-charge and customer service is well-trained and highly responsive.

Diabetes medical jewelry can actually be the difference between life and death in certain medical emergencies. The American Medical Association encourages anyone with diabetes or diabetes mellitus, to wear a necklace or bracelet that could alert an emergency worker to know that you have a medical condition. The American Diabetes Association also recommends the same thing for diabetics. It only makes sense. Many medications and treatments work well for others, but with someone who has diabetes it could spell disaster.

Without a doctor knowing you’re a diabetic, they will have no way of knowing you shouldn’t have certain medicines or that you need a different kind of treatment that will work well with high blood sugar.

Diabetes medical jewelry is easy to find online. There are many websites that offer medical jewelry that can be engraved with your particular medical information. These jewelry pieces are available in silver bracelets or silver chain that go around your neck.

Another good reason for wearing a diabetes bracelet is to alert others, not just medical personnel, that you have diabetes. For example, if you suddenly bottom out from low blood sugar, others around you can see your bracelet and know you have diabetes.

Having diabetes and high blood glucose levels is a serious health condition. By wearing diabetes medical jewelry you can let others know your condition and be assured of getting the right treatment in the event of an emergency.

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Consider a situation when you are taking a bath and suddenly you feel congestion in your heart, and are about to collapse. Or you suffer from epileptic fits, and are on your way to the market when you sense one is coming. In such life-threatening situations, the patients and their family members remain tense every moment and are therefore nagged by a feeling of insecurity that takes away their peace of mind, making it hard to focus on daily life. This demoralizing situation becomes worse with every passing day. This is where the Medical Alert Alarms come to your rescue, to restore your confidence and the feeling of security.

Medical Alert Alarms are devices worn on your body, usually in the form of bracelets or necklace-pendants. These pendants contain buttons that are electronic transmitting devices. The moment these buttons or electronic devices are pressed, they release an alarm through the activation of some radio frequencies or telephone lines.

Suppose a patient is alone in a bathroom and feels suffocated. He can simply press the panic button and the monitoring agency alerts his family members or the medical agency so crucial help can arrive within seconds or minutes. The monitoring agency, of course, possesses the medical data of the patient.

The Medical Alert Alarms are also fitted with a dial-up telephone connection. It has a very loud speaker, and supersensitive microphone. The monitoring agency listens to what the patient has to say and then calls the patient’s friends, family members and doctors. It is basically a communication system that uses the telephone to contact the monitoring agency, which in turn informs the medical agency and also the family members of the patient.

There are some other Medical Alert Alarm systems available on the market. A transmitter button or switch can be fitted in your pillow, which can activate just with the pressure of your head and thus call the crucial help. Buttons of similar type can be fitted in your bed, and easily pressed when necessary.

These Medical Alert Alarms are useful for healthy persons also. Any person confronted with an unexpected situation can use them to summon help. The alerts reduce the anxiety levels of the patients and their family members. They eliminate dependence upon others, and boost the confidence of the wearers and instill crucial feelings of security and independence. And they are very easy to use.

If you unfortunately have a chronic health condition, you’re used to having live with more stringent rules the most. You’re often more careful what activities you do, where you go, and what you eat. Everything you do is done to ensure you don’t aggravate your condition. Of course there is the possibility you’re required to take medication at regular intervals to maintain your symptoms. If this is the case it’s important that health care professionals know about your condition and medications should anything happen to you. This is why it’s important to have medical alert jewelry,

A very simple engraved bracelet or necklace is all medical alert jewelry consists of. Most times it is personalized listing your medical conditions, medications, and any allergies you might have. This ensure that any emergency workers helping you are educated with what they need to know right away even if you are unable to communicate with them. Medical alert jewelry ensure the proper treatment is provided to you, and reduces the risk that any other medications or treatments given to you will not react with other drugs or health conditions you have.

Shopping for medical alert jewelry is an easy task. If you’re looking for a couple of items there are two easy ways to go about it. The first of course is to visit your local department store such as Wal Mart. While they will have a limited selection to choose from the purchase will be immediate. The other option is to visit some of the online retailers of medical alert jewelry. Most times they will have a vast selection, and they will ship the jewelry personalized if you provide the required information. While you don’t receive the items right away, they are sent via the mail rather quickly, and your selection will be a lot more. These benefits along with likely a lower cost then purchasing from a local department store make shopping online better.

No matter where you decide to purchase your medical alert jewelry the most important thing is that your health conditions are at the forefront. You’re willing to take the required steps to ensure you’re kept safe should anything happen to you. You’ll experience greater piece of mind, and your loved ones will know you’ll be treated correctly should they not be around to assist emergency medical staff in an emergency situation. So don’t procrastinate on this, start today and search for some medical alert jewelry, it could be the purchase that saves your life.

Certain companies provide Medical Alert Services not only to senior citizens, but also to persons of all ages who suffer from critical medical conditions which may deteriorate suddenly and necessitate an SOS for immediate help. It may also be noted that such medical emergencies not only occur in case of sick persons, but may also overtake the perfectly healthy. Suppose you are in peak health, driving on the road and then someone driving under the influence of liquor crashes into your car, leaving you in need of urgent medical help. Or you may be sitting alone in your home and you feel suffocated, seized with a panic and in need of immediate medical help.

This is where the Medical Alert Service agencies step in to help you. The services supply very easy-to-use buttons or electronic transmission devices that can be activated just by pressing a button fitted in a necklace or bracelet. It may be stitched on your pillow or on your bed close to your arm or waist.

The moment you press the transmission button or the command module, it sends a panic alarm through radio frequencies to the base station of the Medical Alert Service, which monitors your call. It has your personal and medical details in its database, and instantly alerts your family members or doctor, as the case may be. These devices are also fitted with consoles, which immediately contact your family members or doctors, who can respond to your call immediately. They also try to talk directly to you, if you can respond. This also helps monitor your condition.

Some of these Medical Alert Services perform all the monitoring tasks themselves, while others contract out the job to other agencies. Some of these services may be excellent, while other may be just lousy. The best course to decide about the quality of their services, their devices and their credentials is to contact the state certifying department. Any negligence in this area of enquiry may cost you dearly.

Medical alerts are devices that help the patient, to get adequate help of the right type during an emergency. They have become an acceptable and obligatory fashion accessory in the present day world. Medical alert articles are easily available in the form of jewelry such as pendants, medallions, bracelets, and necklaces. Medical alerts are also available in the form of alert phones and alert push buttons.

It is recommended that people who are suffering from ailments such as hearing, diabetes, Alzheimer?s and other such ailments, as also elders staying alone, should go in for such medical alerts at the earliest, without waiting for a crisis to develop. A medical alert has details of the medical condition of the person, the medications being taken, any allergies a person has, and a phone number for emergency contact. It is seen that the victims who have these medical alerts on their person are attended to, faster as the medical condition is established. This reduces the chance of wrong diagnosis or wrong medication.

At times, the elderly victim is unable to reach the telephone or dial in times of a crisis. The services of a push button console would turn out to be quite handy in such cases. This device has a button like structure, which can be pushed at the time of duress. It emits a loud siren, which can be heard up to quite some distance. This ensures the speedy arrival of help for the victim.

These devices are easily available in the local market as well as on various online sites. A buyer can also look for umpteen schemes and discounts offered, which make the purchase quite affordable. Most online companies are also known to give free shipping and installing charges. It is advisable to ensure, like in buying any other item, that the price quoted is competitive. The after sale service can also be checked, if possible with a previous customer.

It is advisable to buy a medical alert system before disaster strikes. Many people wait for an emergency to arise before buying a medical alert device. Some do not buy one after the fact. However, in some emergency situations, the victim is unable to reach the telephone or dial it. Hence, it is imperative that such medical alert systems are given to elderly people or people who have serious medical conditions that may require emergency assistance.

The various factors one needs to ensure before buying one of the various medical alert systems available are the efficiency of the system and its cost effectiveness. It should be ensured that the monitoring center provided by the companies is good and in a position to offer the services promised.

An elderly patient would require the services of a push button console while in case of a diabetic or hearing impaired, it is a bracelet or pendant that would be more handy. There are various companies selling these systems and offering their services in this capacity. A buyer could buy it off a shelf in a retail shop. If one has access to the net, the buyer is provided with lot of choices. There are innumerable sites offering the different medical alert systems online. The catalogues help to choose and decide on the best buy keeping in mind the requirements and the cost.

There are also many plans and discounts offered, which make purchasing a system like this less expensive. Most companies offer free shipping and installation. It is advisable to ensure, much like when buying any other item, that the price quoted is competitive. It is very important to find out about the mode of payment expected. Warranty and guarantee clauses should also be known. It should be confirmed that the company is of repute before placing the order. The after- sale service should be checked, if possible, with another customer who has already used the services.

Rising health care is no longer an annoying item on the expense line; it is now a basic threat to overall company performance. Some companies try to avoid the obligation through the use of temporary employees or simply moving more of the costs to the employee through increased co-payments and contributions to health care plans. These are only short-term tactics. In the long run, we need to find more permanent solutions. In fact, some suggest that these spiraling health care costs are so great that they offset the normal growth produced by an otherwise healthy company.

In 1996, I had the opportunity to serve on a task force led by the former Surgeon General of the U.S., Dr. C. Everett Koop. Our objective was to look at ways that technology could help address some of the health care challenges we faced at the time. We reviewed a number of telemedicine applications, many of which were pioneered by the U.S. military as they attempted to provide care to military personnel around the globe. Our task force urged that policy changes were necessary in order to fully take advantage of those systems.

For example, state-by-state physician licensing did not allow for practice across state lines using telemedicine systems, and federal reimbursement policies would not pay for consultations done using telemedicine systems. Progress has been made in some of those areas, but many are still barriers to the effective use of these systems. Efficacy was never a question, and it was clearly recognized that providing patients with easier access to health care produced better long-term results, both from financial and quality of life perspectives.

So, what does this mean to business leaders? One of the reasons that the U.S. military pioneered many telemedicine applications was that they were ultimately responsible for the care of military personnel and their families, so they were simply looking at the most efficient and effective way to provide that care. Reimbursement policies and other issues weren’t relevant in their case.

In many ways, business leaders are now in the same situation. Companies are often responsible either directly or indirectly for the cost of providing health care to their employees and family members, and the current system providing that care isn’t structured to look at efficiency and effectiveness over the long term. It’s time that business leaders consider a different approach.

BellSouth is launching an initial trial of a system that is designed to help diabetic employees and/or family members improve the management of their disease. The system utilizes a connection to the employee’s home (typically broadband), as well as an application for monitoring the employee’s compliance with their diabetes management protocol. It includes the capability to alert medical professionals and family members if the protocol is not followed or if blood sugar levels are out of range.

BellSouth data suggests that the average annual health care cost for a diabetic employee is several times higher than a nondiabetic employee. We estimate that improved compliance could reduce those costs by about one-third, which more than pays for the cost of the system. Furthermore, improved compliance will add years to the employees’ lives and improve the quality of life. We believe that there are many other similar opportunities to improve compliance and reduce costs using broadband capabilities to the home.

Let’s utilize the same technologies that improve productivity, effectiveness and customer service to deal with these problems. We could try waiting for a government-led solution but frankly, we don’t have the time.

One of the most difficult decisions family members must make is deciding that their mother or father needs more assistance than they can provide. The overwhelming guilt of placing a loved one outside the home can often create turmoil and chaos among the family members themselves. The perceived reputation of the healthcare industry, let alone the nursing home industry, is unsettling to families, but the overall institutional atmosphere leads the way to further dissatisfaction and apprehension.

At Chicago-based Lancaster Health Group, which operates seven nursing home facilities, we started the C.H.O.I.C.E. program (Choosing How Our Individualized Care Evolves) in January 2003 to allay these concerns. Families (typically baby boomers) were generally unhappy about placing their loved ones in nursing homes. The biggest problem we saw had to do with life and the perceived quality of life in a nursing home setting. It is very apparent that when a resident adjusts well to a new environment, the family becomes happier and fewer problems or issues are encountered. We wanted to create an environment that made that adjustment quicker. We wanted our homes to be a pleasant surprise for the resident and an enjoyable place for the family to visit.

Planning for C.H.O.I.C.E.

We explored specialty programs such as the Eden Alternative, Wellspring, and the Pioneer Movement. We planned a two-day trip to the nursing home in Missouri that started the Pioneer Movement to observe what the administration was doing and how it was doing it. We took our administrators, directors of nursing, activity directors, social service directors, dietary manager, some nurses and certified nursing assistants, and the owners to Missouri.

After spending two days in Missouri, we believed we had a starting point from which we could develop a new and different program based on increasing the quality of life in a nursing home. On the way back, we brainstormed about what we wanted to do and in what order. Our goal was to create an environment where we would be proud to have our own parents reside. Putting ourselves in our parents’ place, we started with the things most important to us.

All agreed that fine dining was going to be the first project tackled.

Dining Services

Food was a universal issue. Everyone disliked tray service because the aroma of the food is never present before delivery. We felt the need to smell and see the food before ordering to help increase appetite. With tray service, ever-present condensation on the lids of the plate covers further lessens the appetizing appearance of the food. Also, the concept of choices was significant. Besides the substitution of the day, we wanted two choices of every thing: meat, vegetables, and desserts. We also wanted soup and salad at every lunch and dinner. Since we were excited about getting started and the steam tables we ordered would take time to arrive, we began by taking tureens of soup from table to table. One facility used hot plates and began making omelets in the morning. Just these minor changes created a stir among the residents and families, and we could already see the impact this program was going to have on everyone.

Before our steam tables arrived, we created a questionnaire to find out what the residents wanted; e.g., what time they wanted to get up in the morning, what day and time they wanted their bath, and whether they wanted a bath or shower. Once data were compiled, we knew we had to provide more time for dining. A two-hour window would be needed for dining since everyone got up at different times and more people wanted to eat in the main dining room. The first steam table arrived in May 2003, and all our facilities had initiated their fine-dining programs by July. We also began using china plates, glasses, and cloth napkins. The cloth napkins were used as clothing protectors so we could eliminate the word “bib” from our vocabulary.

The residents gave a unanimous “thumbs-up,” and by October we were seeing that food was a large part of the residents’ quality of life. By then:

* We began asking our physicians for more liberal diets–the more liberal the diets, the more the residents enjoy mealtime. Weight loss was no longer the problem it once had been; however, now weight gain needed to be monitored more closely. We observed, from looking over data from 2004 through 2005, that residents either were maintaining their weight or were decreasing the percentage of weight loss during this period.

* We realized just how much food and dining were a part of visiting. We allowed family members one free meal per day (more for special situations) if they came to eat with their loved one. Dining became a much more social event than before. After all, none of us eat in front of visitors without asking them to join us.

* We were able to eliminate seat assignments. After all, those assignments were for the staff’s convenience of getting everyone served at the same time when operating a tray line. Now people sat where they wanted, made new friends, and even began new romantic relationships. This was possibly our biggest surprise! As you might expect, this socialization dramatically increased not only resident satisfaction, but family satisfaction, as well.