I went to the dentist today. It was just a cleaning and checkup. A dental hygienist cleaned my teeth and the dentist stopped by to check on her work and ask me if I had any questions for him. My dentist has a deal where you pay $200 a year upfront and two cleanings a…
Category: Direct Primary Care
OTC Hearing Aids are Finally Here. Say What? Do Speak Up!
Starting today Americans will be able to legally buy hearing aids over the counter (OTC). Granted, there were a few already available before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations were announced. However, big-name electronics manufacturers held out until the FDA issued its Final Rule. In the interim between when the law was passed and when the FDA promulgated regulations, legacy purveyors of prescription hearing aids lobbied behind the scenes in hopes of hobbling OTC competition.
The Pros and Cons of Telemental and Online Mental Health Counseling
Telemedicine got a tremendous boost during Covid when Americans were isolating in their homes and many doctors were afraid to see patients face-to-face. In addition, many people were stressed from social isolation with kids attending schools online while parents tried to work from home. As a result, mental health services also went online. Experts are…
Births are Now Emergencies (Replete with ER Charges)
My mother told the story about my birth on a few occasions. She went into labor and my father drove her to the hospital 40 miles away. A nurse at the hospital assured my mother her baby wasn’t yet due. My mother explained she was in labor nonetheless. I don’t recall whether she called her doctor or if the hospital called him. How things have changed since I was born. The natural process that’s been occurring in humans for 200,000 to 300,000 years has now become a medical procedure requiring with emergency care.