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• Barbara Bush’s Final Decision Highlights Comfort and Palliative Care Options

  At 92, Former First Lady Barbara Bush had been in failing health for several years, challenged by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure. This past Sunday, a spokesman announced that Mrs. Bush had decided she had received enough medical interventions to extend her life. Instead, she wanted to focus her last days on spending time with family and receiving comfort care. Mrs. Bush died April 17, at her home in Houston, with her family around her.

• Genetic Testing During Pregnancy: Know Your Options

  From breastfeeding to day care, pregnant women must decide what’s best for themselves and their child. Genetic testing is another option to consider. When weighing the pros and cons of genetic testing, ask yourself what you think you would get out of the information, and how you would feel if you get an abnormal result.

• Caregivers: Take Care of Yourselves, Too

  In today’s busy world, we’re all stretched thin by work, family, appointments and obligations. Add in the stress and responsibilities of caring for an aging parent or critically ill family member, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed. That’s why it’s essential for caregivers to take the time to care for themselves, too.

• Why Go to a Comprehensive Care Clinic for MS Treatment?

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complicated disease. The neurological disease encompasses the central nervous system and affects the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. With this disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the central nervous system, causing inflammation and scar tissue that damages nerve fibers and myelin, a fatty substance that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers.  That damage can change or stop messages within the central nervous system.

• Understanding what a Patient Care Coordinator Can Do for You

  Navigating the complex world of patient care can be a stressful and difficult experience. When you or a loved one is recovering from any medical issue, getting back to health should be the main focus. You shouldn’t be confused about what services are needed or where to go to find them. That’s where Orlando Health’s dedicated team of Patient Care Coordinators come in. Each Patient Care Coordinator is trained to help assist with any questions a patient may have – whether that’s over the phone, via email or in person. They make sure that care plans are initiated and followed, and can help patients better understand medical conditions, medications and instructions, both in the hospital and at home.

• Wound Care at Orlando Health

  An estimated 6.7 million patients will suffer from non-healing advanced wounds this year, according to Wound Care Awareness. Seniors, diabetic patients, cancer survivors, veterans, cardiac and surgical patients, are among those who will be affected by a non-healing wound.

• Exploring Options to Treat Advanced Shoulder Arthritis

  About 50 million Americans have been diagnosed with arthritis, a disease that causes pain and inflammation in the joints. Many of these patients have pain in the shoulder. I recommend gentle stretches, physical therapy and oral medications as first-line treatment. For some patients, shoulder replacement surgery may be an effective way to relieve pain when medicine and other treatments do not work.

• How Compassionate Communication Improves Patient Care

  Whether a patient is sitting in a doctor’s office, waiting in an exam room or waking up after surgery, they often feel a mix of emotions, including uncertainty, fear and vulnerability. They want answers. They want the truth. But even as doctors share information with them, they want more than just the facts -- they want it conveyed in a caring manner.

• Level One Trauma Care Saved My Life

  In June of 2014, I was trimming trees at a local church, which just happened to be across the street from a hospital. While I was working, a power line arched over to the metal bucket I was standing in and shot 14,000 volts of electricity through my body. (For perspective, a Taser delivers about 1,200 volts to the body.)

• How Delaying Care Can Increase Your Risks

  Many of us are more focused on our health now, perhaps more than we have been in a long time. We are staying at home and flattening the curve. We are wearing masks in public settings and observing social distancing guidelines.