How You Can Avoid Getting Fake H1N1 Products

Unfortunately, the rise in H1N1 cases has made it difficult for consumers to determine which products are legitimate with regards to H1N1 medications or supplies versus those which are not. Here are some tips so that you know how to protect yourself from purchasing Fake H1N1 products or materials.

Urge caution regarding promotions and Internet sites offering products for sale that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the H1N1 flu virus!

Fake H1N1 flu drugs sold over the internet are bringing in millions of dollars to gangs, illegal vendors and criminal organizations operating fake pharmaceutical sites on the web. This websites promote advertise and offer counterfeit antiviral drugs sale that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the H1N1 flu virus.

The top five countries buying fake and unapproved Tamiflu on the internet were; the United States, Germany, Britain, Canada and France, according to Sophos a British security software firm that intercepted hundreds of millions of fake pharmaceutical spam adverts and websites this year.

Tamiflu, an antiviral marketed by Switzerland’s Roche Holding and known generically as Oseltamivir, is the frontline drug recommended by the World Health Organization to treat and slow the progression of flu symptoms. GlaxoSmithKline makes another antiviral for flu, known as Relenza.

Sophos said criminal gangs were operating medicines websites branded as the "Canadian Pharmacy” in an attempt to appear genuine. Hundreds of virtually similar so-called "Canadian Pharmacy" sites exist. Although their claim is to be based in Canada (a tactic designed to add credibility), the sites might actually be located anywhere in the world.

Sophos also reports that members of Glavmed, one of the more popular Russian affiliate networks, can earn an average of $16,000 a day promoting such dodgy pharmacy websites. These sites have begun advertising Tamiflu alongside more traditional products such as Viagra and Cialis.

As consumers grow increasingly anxious about obtaining the H1N1 flu vaccine for their children and other vulnerable family members, scam artists take advantage by selling them bogus remedies online,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The FTC reminds consumers that the only products recommended for treatment of H1N1 flu are prescription antiviral drugs, including Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza).

In a letter sent in early November 2009, the Federal Trade Commission is warning certain Web site operators making claims that their products can prevent, treat, or cure the H1N1 flu, commonly known as swine flu. The FTC told the companies – whose products include dietary supplements, air filtration devices, and homeopathic remedies, items containing silver, and cleaning agents – that unless they have scientific proof for their claims, they are violating federal law and must drop the claims or face further action.

The FTC’s Consumer Alert warns the public to be skeptical of claims that products like pills, air filtration devices, and cleaning agents can kill or eliminate the virus. The alert advises consumers to:

Know the facts: The H1N1 virus is thought to spread from person to person in the same way that seasonal flu spreads – mainly coughing or sneezing by people with the flu. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

Keep your hands clean: Public health authorities advise that basic personal hygiene is the best protection against infection. Wash your hands thoroughly. When soap and water are not available, health authorities suggest using alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers. These products are available in most supermarkets and drugstores.

Tip: Sing Happy Birthday Twice while washing your hands….with warm water and soap before rinsing thoroughly or see the HospitalSoup.com handwashing article which gives you the top things you need to know about how to properly wash your hands. 

Check travel advisories for affected areas: To lower your risk of infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest avoiding travel to affected regions.

Seek medical attention: If you think either you may have influenza symptoms, or you may have been in direct contact with someone who has the flu, consult a health care professional immediately.

Stay informed: For more information from the federal government about the H1N1 flu, check out or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed on www.HospitalSoup.com at http://www.hospitalsoup.com/listing/9317-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention.
or visit U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES http://www.hospitalsoup.com/listing/7541-u-s-department-of-health-human-services on the same site to learn more.

Swine Flu Michigan

Beaumont Hospitals Michigan start 24hour swine flu call center!

The suburban Detroit Hospital chain says its H1N1 Call Center will be staffed around the clock. It says some callers may get voice mail at peak times, but the calls will be returned.
Beaumont says the line is designed to give accurate information about flu symptoms and when and where to seek medical care. The center can be reached by calling 888-375-H1N1 (4161). Beaumont is also hosting a live Web chat on H1N1 flu on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 2 – 3 p.m. Jedd Roe, M.D. chief of Emergency Medicine at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, will be available to respond to questions through an online chat room.

State health officials said Monday that 28 Michigan residents have died and 801 have been hospitalized for the flu since Sept. 1.

Young Children; a Second Dose of 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine provides
Robust Immune Response.

November 2, 2009

Interim results that show that children nine years of age and younger have a significantly improved immune response when given a second 15-microgram dose of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine reports the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

The clinical trial evaluated the immune response of children six months to 17 years of age who received two doses of either 15 or 30 micrograms of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine. One of the main findings from this study among children nine years old and younger* revealed that the second dose produce a robust immune response after eight to 10 days. These results are similar to those recently reported in clinical trials of healthy adults. Younger children generally had a less robust early response to the vaccine.

*Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.

One dose of the H1N1 vaccine is needed for those 10 years and older. For children 6 months through 9 years of age, 2 doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be required. The doses need to be at least three weeks apart to get the best immune response to the vaccine.

The new recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which sets U.S. recommendations for all immunizations are:

Children nine years of age and younger should receive two 15-microgram doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine, to achieve an immune response likely to protect from illness. The trial data also continue to support the recommendation that children ten years of age and older should receive only one 15-microgram dose of vaccine.

The interim results include data from all available samples from the 583 children enrolled into the trial. Early results, based on blood samples taken eight to 10 days following the first injection, showed that in the majority of children 10 years of age and older, a single 15-microgram dose of vaccine produced a strong immune response. In contrast, most of the younger children did not respond strongly to only one dose of either 15 or 30 micrograms of vaccine.

New data, obtained eight to 10 days after the second vaccine dose, are compared here with results obtained 21 days after the first vaccine dose:

1. Among the youngest children (6 to 35 months), 100 percent had a robust immune response after the second 15-microgram dose compared with only 25 percent three weeks after the first dose.
2. In children aged 3 through 9 years old, 94 percent had a robust response after the second 15-microgram dose compared with only 55 percent three weeks after the first dose.
3. In general, the immune responses in children receiving two 15-microgram doses and those receiving two 30-microgram doses of vaccine were similar; suggesting that receipt of two 15 microgram doses is adequate to obtain a strong immune response.  

Additional information about the 2009 H1N1 influenza, vaccines and other diseases are available at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)) website listed on www.hospitalsoup.com

Healthcare Cents Where is the Common Sense? Your Dollars Going Down the Toilet

If you ask any American today if we need healthcare reform you’d be hard pressed to find anyone answering that healthcare in this country does not need dramatic change. But with all the rhetoric and debates going on with trying to pass healthcare reform it’s difficult to think our government will solve the issue as things stand now.  Would we be be best served if the healthcare solution comes from private industry instead of government bureaucrats? Do we need more layers of red tape and solutions that are wired in regulation and inefficiency? Have we  lost sight of practicality and  some of the real problems facing people everyday?  Is incorporating more layers of government into a system that relies more on regulations than on solving the needs of the people that it’s supposed to serve helpful? Every day it seems we hear more about the the struggles of the everyday person as they navigate through the maze of paperwork and “rules” that stand in the way of citizens getting their healthcare needs met in a way that won’t break the budget.

Take for example, the example of Claudia Burrows, a woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which is a  progressive neurogenerative disease that has affected her ability to speak. Burrows’ dilemma brought to light some of the issues that still plague Medicare. And in creating a new healthcare plan,  perhaps we should look at some of the things that are broken within our current system, before trying to come up with a plan for a new one.

Understandably, Medicare has “rules” for what it will and will not pay. But you would think when the rules don’t “fit” the situation, that there would be someone within the Medicare system or our government who still has at least a little bit of common sense.   In the case of Burrows, 48 years old,  and a resident of Muncie, Indiana, she found that if she purchased an IPod touch, and a program called Proloquo2Go, she could use the IPod to type out her words on the screen and the IPod would speak them for her, which would enable her to communicate. The cost for this device was $375 which Burrows paid out of her own pocket because Medicare won’t pay for it. Burrows can use the device not only for communication purposes, but also to keep track of her medication schedules and as a note-taking device. 

Medicare will however, pay for a dedicated device that costs $8,000.00 because it is designed for a specific medical purpose, and a friend of Burrows’ got one of these devices through the Medicare program, but Burrows’ friend found the $8,000.00 unit too  bulky and difficult to use so Burrows’ friend got an IPhone instead.

Medicare’s rationale for not paying for the $375 item that actually works better than the $8,000.00 device was that the IPod and other devices like them are designed for the “general public” and as such were not covered because they are not for a “specific medical purpose”.  We’ve all heard about the  government spending fiasco that resulted in a $9,600 wrench and a $640 toilet seat from years past. You would think that after the last year with all the chaos within our financial markets and our handing out dollars to bank executives who instead of using that money as it was intended, took bonuses for themselves, that we would have learned something more about  smart spending.  Are we heading for more of the same where we say as a nation we must “act quickly” without fully considering the repercussions of our actions? We currently have a stimulus package where our Federal Government is spending “tens of millions of stimulus dollars to repair and build toilets across the nation,’” according to the New York Times.   We used to be a country that thrived on innovation and used technology to it’s fullest.  Now, when we tell a patient that they have to purchase an $8,000 device that is non-functional, instead of spending $375 on a device that is used by millions successfully, we are truly throwing money down the toilet. And the worst part of all of this is that patients like Claudia Burrows who should be rewarded for their innovation and ingenuity for coming up with a solution to help both herself and other patients who may be in the same situation, are ignored and told that it’s not important if the device works or not. Results or functionality doesn’t matter. It’s black and white—paid or not paid.   When we create systems that take the human element and common sense out of making healthcare decisions and rely solely on what some page in a manual says—we all lose in a big way.

Your comments? What do you think? Should Medicare pay for Claudia Burrow’s IPod device?

Wisconsin Hospitals Flu News in Wisconsin Hospitals

The state of Wisconsin and Hospitals in Wisconsin are taking pandemic flu very seriously. At the direction of the Governor, an Interagency Pandemic Flu Coordination Team was created in 2006. The mission of the Team, consisting of representatives from many state government agencies, is to work as a panel to provide guidance and oversight among partner agencies and to develop clear and consistent communications so that everyone in Wisconsin is informed about avian flu and the potential for a pandemic.

Pandemic flu is a worldwide outbreak of illness that occurs when a new influenza virus appears and spreads easily from person to person. A pandemic flu could happen at any time, and would affect people in Wisconsin and around the world.

To find Flu Clinics and Hospitals in Wisconsin for either seasonal or H1N1 flu in your community, go to the 211 Flu Clinic Locator and simply type in the desired zip code or simply click SEARCH and Providers are listed in city order. This information is made available from 211 Wisconsin through the generous help and support from partners such as; United Way, community foundations, Wisconsin Hospitals, local government and the State of Wisconsin Division of Public Health. The site on 211 is constantly being updated and should you plan a Flu Clinic or are a flu vaccination provider who would like to be included in this valuable resource directory, we urge you to kindly submit your information through the same site.

The environments in which we live affect our health. The air we breathe, the water we drink the food we eat as well as the region in which we interact, play a considerable effect on our well being. Children and older adults and people with heart or lung diseases are the most likely to be affected by particulate pollution exposure. Airborne particles, the main ingredient of haze, smoke, and airborne dust, present serious air quality problems in many areas of the United States.

Long-term exposures, such as those experienced by people living for many years in areas with high particle levels, have been associated with reduced lung functions, development of chronic bronchitis and premature death. A report by the American Lung Association reveals that close to two thirds of Americans live in areas where the air is so contaminated that it compromises their health and causing some peoples death.

So what has the Flu or the new influenza virus H1N1 first detected in people in the United States in April 2009 causing illness and death, to do with air quality? Initially, very little. However when you consider that the Swine Flu, the H1H1 Flu and the flu in general are all respiratory illnesses and may also infect people which already have weakened respiratory systems, the conclusion changes greatly. Americans with polluted lungs will be more likely to get seriously ill if they encounter an additional disease. A significant number of persons living in the USA are already suffering from preventable respiratory illnesses caused by bad air quality and any additional infection, or illness like the flu, swine flu or H1H1 virus will further complicate a patient’s health which already suffers from a respiratory disease.

The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A large number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Like with the seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with the 2009 H1N1 virus.

Wisconsin currently has a variety of plans which encompass different aspects of pandemic planning. The plans looks at such issues as how to limit the spread of the disease, stretch available resources, and best protect the health and safety of everyone in the event of pandemic flu. Other plan areas include antiviral medication prioritization and distribution, and triggers for response to an influenza pandemic.

Protecting and promoting the health and safety of everyone in Wisconsin cannot be done by State Government Agencies, Hospitals and Health Care Institutions alone. Responding to a pandemic requires the cooperation of everyone. The efforts by partners at the tribal and local government levels, and those of businesses, not-for-profit agencies, community organizations, and faith-based groups continue to play a key role in keeping Wisconsin a safer and healthier place to live.

211 Wisconsin connects people in need with human services. By dialing 211, people are linked to resources, services and information from both government healthcare and nonprofit organizations. From the single mother seeking food for her children to the senior citizen looking for in-home care, a Wisconsin Clinic a Hospital in Wisconsin. 211 bring people and community resources together.

Flu WI, Influenza WI, Pandemic Flu WI, H1N1 Flu WI, Flu Vaccine WI, Flu Clinic Locator WI

Wisconsin Assisted Living Retirement Living in Wisconsin

Wellington Homes of Wisconsin, owns Community Based Residential Facilities under the name Wellington Place and one named Wellington Meadows across Wisconsin. All facilities offer Seniors the opportunity to live independently in a home-style atmosphere with assisted activities.

One of the Wellington Homes properties, Wellington Meadows is a beautiful 28 bed Residential Facility situated on five acres of land in the city of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin . Residents in this Wisconsin Assisted Living Facility will enjoy suites including some sized for double occupancy. You can also find nearby Wisconsin Hospitals which provides resources for medical care in the area.  Another Fort Atkinson Assisted Living Facility is Wellington Place at Fort Atkinson, which has 20 beds and is located on approximately 1.1 acres of land.  If you’re looking for a residential facility located in Wausau, Wisconsin you may want to check out Wellington Place.  Wellington Place offers beautiful senior living amenities including a gorgeous view of a very nice Ski Resort, Rib Mountain.

Wellington Homes provides amenities that add to a dynamic and fun living environment, such as homemade meals, rooms that include private bathrooms, sitting rooms, mini-fridges and microwaves, and are pet friendly.

Spacious and comfortable common areas include a dining area, television lounge, family room, library, kitchen, laundry, and even a beauty parlor.

Wellington Homes House Care Coordinators and staff are some of the best in the business and know how to take care of their residents!

Wellington Meadows is also just walking distance away from the Fort Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, a comforting thought should the need for immediate medical care arise.

Texas Hospitals Answer To Flu Epidemic

Every year in the United States, on average, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu, and no one knows for sure when the next pandemic may strike. Efforts are underway to plan for the complex issues and serious impact that a new influenza pandemic could cause worldwide. Some Austin Texas Hospitals already had a taste of it and should be well prepared.

What is a Pandemic Flu outbreak?

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic develops when an influenza virus appears for which there is little or no resistance in the human immune system against that germ. A serious illness in population begins and since there is little immunity against this disease will then easily be transmitted person-to-person and spread worldwide. The fact that infected people can share the virus before symptoms appear increases the risk of international spread of the illness via travelers.

Tree major influenza pandemics swept the globe in the 20th century causing millions of deaths.

1918-1919: “Spanish flu”

1956-1958: “Asian flu”

1968-1969: “Hong Kong flu”

Hospitals in Texas and elsewhere have been utilizing drive-thru and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat an ever increasing number of swine flu patients, in an effort to keep coughing, feverish people out of regular emergency rooms, where they could possibly infect other patients in crisis. The need for this type of outpatient treatment outside the ER premises of some Texas Hospitals making use of tents and drive-thru triage has dramatically risen in recent weeks due to a flu spread especially among schoolchildren. In Austin TX for example, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas had nearly 400 ER visits on one day alone, mainly kids infected with the H1N1 influenza virus, also referred to as “swine flu”. With the use of tents many patients could be diverted to those temporary outside facilities, solving the real likelihood of overcrowding Emergency Rooms in other Hospitals in Austin Texas.

The H1N1 flu, (also referred to as “swine flu”) is making headlines, and scientists are predicting that infections will rise. H1N1 is a new influenza virus causing people to become ill. In the United States H1N1 virus was first detected in people in April 2009. H1N1 flu is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway.

Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?

This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

New York Hospitals First Female Physician in US

Family practice is the broadly encompassing specialty of medicine that deals with the medical care of children, adults, and seniors and a Family Physician is a qualified family-practice specialists. Family physicians possess unique attitudes, skills, and knowledge that qualify them to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance, and preventive services. They stand ready to treat each member of the family regardless of sex, age, or behavioral or social problems. Their medical knowledge encompasses pediatrics, internal medicine, geriatrics, psychiatry, minor surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, sports medicine, and nutrition. Family physicians consider themselves to be specialists in your well being.

Interesting Facts About New York Hospitals

Did You Know?  Who was the first female physician in the Unites States?

In 1853, she opened the one-room New York Dispensary for Poor Women and Children in a slum area near present-day Tompkins Square Park on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In 1856 she joined her sister’s dispensary, which the next year became the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, today’s New York Downtown Hospital, a New  York City Hospital. Staffed entirely by women for decades, The New York Infirmary for Women and Children was consistently listed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and by the American Medical Association as a grade "A" hospital. Her name was Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman physician to graduate from a modern medical school. Elizabeth Blackwell applied to many medical schools before finally being admitted in 1847 to the Medical Institution of Geneva College  which was part of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY. On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell received her Doctor of Medicine degree graduating on top of her all male class. 

Dr. Blackwell  spent her life opening doors for women in the medical profession, championed many “firsts” including:

• Founding the country’s first hospital for women
• Starting one of the country’s earliest medical schools for women – the first medical school to mandate four years of study
• Creating one of the first nursing schools in America
• Founding the National Health Society

This important moment in the history of women’s achievements and modern medicine is being recognized by Downtown Hospital and the City Of New York. New York Hospitals, then began a tradition of progressive care and thinking.  In honor of, Dr. Blackwell, the corner of Gold and Beekman Streets are officially co-named “Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell Place” in honor of Dr. Blackwell’s contributions to the fields of medicine, education, and equal rights. In addition, The Elizabeth Blackwell Society has been created to ensure the continuation of Dr. Blackwell’s mission through the programs and services of the hospital she helped to found over 150 years ago, the New York Downtown Hospital.

Note: Elizabeth Blackwell image, first female physician in the United States was obtained from the National Institutes of Health, and is in the public domain.

Sources:
Wikipedia: Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell
Hobart & William Smith College website: Elizabeth Blackwell, MD; The First Female Medical Doctor Educated at Geneva Medical College