Site of the Month for June 2011 is concerned with medical information. Providing links to health and medical information sites. Enter sites dedicated to occupational health, health education, nursing and health insurance.

It is certain that this is a very interesting and rewarding career choice, but is it for you? In order to be certain, there are some things you must know beforehand. Given below are four must-know tips to succeed in the fantastic world of transcriptionist work:

1. You Must Have Motivation – If you want to be successful at dictation transcription, you have to have something that is motivating you. For most people, it is making money, which is a great reason, but you need more than that. Think about the other elements of this career that are enjoyable. Another reason to want to keep on striving for a better future could be because you get to spend more time with your family. Look at the other benefits of this career before jumping into it solely for the money.

2. You Must Be Highly Organized – Do you think that you are highly organized? If not, then do you have it in you to become a more organized person? Transcriptionist work is for those who are orderly. The reason why is because a day in the life of this job can be very hectic and chaotic. If you have children, putting them on a schedule will help you to keep your sanity. An organized work station will also save you from feeling frustrated and on edge all of the time.

3. You Must Have a Dedicated Work Area – On top of being organized, you have to be able to hear the dictation transcription. This may require that you turn the television off, along with the radio, the house phone, and your cell phone. Do not let yourself have any distractions when typing because they can really slow down your workday and cause you to get very behind. Tell everyone to leave you alone if you must, and do not be afraid of being inconsiderate because remember, this is your job, not theirs. It’s the only way you have of making a living, so they should at least have enough decency to respect that.

4. You Must Be Patient – There will be times when you are listening to your dictation medical transcription when you just want to give up completely and find another line of work. That type of attitude will not get you anywhere in transcriptionist work. When you receive a recording from a doctor who is hard to understand, take a deep breath, relax, and keep at it. Get up and go do something else if you need to clear your head. No matter what, always try your best and have patience because with experience, it gets a lot easier. If you stick with it, you will succeed.

* One should have a good knowledge of medical terminology and it is best if the individual is a pro in the field of bio-science at least till of graduation level.

* The field of medical writing is very dynamic and new discoveries and terminology are perpetually being introduced hence good pharmaceutical literature, journal as well as a medical dictionary is deeply appreciated as an indispensable tool for initiating a career in the field of medical writing.

* Medical writing comprises of two basic factions scientific and market oriented medical writing, hence before venturing into the field of medical writing one should ascertain which road an individual wishes to concur with. While scientific medical writing is based solely on the academic jargon, on the other hand, market based medical writing is more in tune with consumers’ aspirations.

* A basic writing experience is invariably required even if it is in the field of journalism or literature. A crystal clear comprehension of the product, its components and its progressive outcome as well as side effects will not only facilitate your vision and thought about the product but will also go a long way in establishing your name in the industry.

* Medical journals on the cyberspace and search engine have proved to be the Pandora’s Box and an encyclopedia for the pro and amateur writers.

* Unlike fiction writing where imagination runs high and the review is decorated with fancy words and phrases medical writing is purely based on concrete evidence and facts and the newbie are strictly advised not to engross phony ideologies and imaginations.

* Books and software’s about the subject are freely available in the market and are paramount while researching the product and writing facts which are both scientific and consumer based.

* Writing of a clinical product manual requires adequate medical knowledge or clinical acumen for putting it across in a simple and lucid style. It has to be written at a level appropriate to the audience and the project.

Now you are in a quandary because your doctor gave you this prescription and wants you to take the medication. You want to find out if the risk of taking it is worse than the condition you have that your doctor is treating. You can call the office and ask the doctor or his assistant but you want more information about your condition before you even do that. So where do you go to find medical information that is reliable?

One of the best reasons for using your local library to find medical information is that the reference librarians can help you. Most libraries have medical reference books that you can only read in the library. Often times the books are located close to the reference desk because the librarians keep track of them. The librarian knows which books can help you find your information. Take them to a table and either photo copy the pages or take notes or do both.

Most libraries also have internet access and a data base that includes medical information. They usually have a collection of basic medical references which may include medical dictionaries or encyclopedias, drug information handbooks, basic medical and nursing textbooks, and directories of physicians and medical specialists. You may also want to find magazine articles on a certain topic. Look in the Readers Guide to Periodical Literature for articles on health and medicine that were published in consumer magazines. Be sure to ask the librarian which of these resources is available on line and open to the public because life on the internet changes quickly.

Libraries also have computer databases indexing hundreds of popular magazines and newspapers as well as some medical journals. In these journals you have free access to some of the articles but not to everything without a paid subscription. However, many of the databases or indexes have abstracts that provide a summary of each journal article. Although most community libraries do not have a large collection of medical and nursing journals, your librarian may be able to get copies of the articles you want through Interlibrary loans. You may have to pay for this service.

Again, the reference librarian will be able to walk you through all this and help you organize that information. Again, some of that information may not be available to you at home because you need to be a member of this or that organization. Copy the url addresses that are open to the public so you can look at those sites at home and on your own time.

Scar revision, performed by plastic surgeons and doctors is common. Why? The truth is that many cosmetic surgery procedures-even when performed by highly experienced surgeons-can leave scars. Fortunately for patients, the options for reducing or eliminating these scars comprise a full menu, wherein each technique is preferable to a certain situation or area of the body/surgical procedure.

Techniques utilized by surgeons to eliminate or reduce the appearance of scars, no matter how long a patient has borne them include:

1. Injectable treatments used to fill scars, requiring repeated, regular applications for complete erasure
2. Surface treatment types such as dermabrasion, laser therapy (also termed light therapy) chemical peels, and skin bleaching
3. Topical gels, tapes, external compression
4. Complete scar removal while the patient is under general anesthesia, followed by careful wound closure: At times this requires a skin graft; timing is critical, with the best results realized two to three full months after a scar has matured

Low risk (except in the case of the fourth option using general anaesthesia) and highly effective, scar revision treatments have proven successful in making the most of cosmetic surgeries while providing patients with viable solutions when they are faced with unsightly scars. Patients preparing for any type of cosmetic surgery will do well to inquire about scar revision options post-op to reduce or eliminate scarring. Those who have not undergone cosmetic surgical procedures but who for other reasons suffer with scarring–as a result of disease, deformity or dermal conditions–can also benefit.

The best course of action is to investigate options and schedule an appointment to speak with one or more cosmetic surgeons about possible procedures and realistic expectations for results. Well established facilities provide online resources and procedure descriptions, and many clinics offer financing options for those whose scar revision therapy might not be covered by healthcare insurance.

Education for Audiologists

In the United States, audiologists have a doctoral degree, or PhD, in audiology and must pass rigorous testing before they are licensed to practice. Audiologists also serve several months to a year as an intern in order to complete the education they received in the classroom. They are trained to do a variety of complex and lengthy tests to determine the severity of hearing loss and any potential balance problems that may be related to the ear canal. Most audiologists are members of the American Board of Audiology.

While an audiologist can not do surgery or prescribe certain medications, he or she can do hearing tests on infants, children, adults and the elderly. Based on test results, the audiologist can determine whether there is hearing loss, how profound that loss is and whether the problem can be corrected by hearing aids or other means. In many cases, your audiologist can recommend the right type of hearing aid for your hearing loss. He or she can also recommend other devices such as amplified telephones that may make your life easier. If there is a medical problem to be treated, which happens in about 10 percent of hearing losses, the audiologist will refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist.

When your hearing aid arrives, your audiologist will carefully adjust it to fit properly and give you the best combination of sound amplification and clarity. He or she will walk you through the proper care and use of your hearing aid and will be available to answer any questions you might have after you’ve gone home with your new hearing aids.

Many people are disturbed to learn they have substantial hearing loss. Fortunately, audiologists are also trained to counsel their patients and family members. They help them come to terms with their limitations and supporting them throughout the adjustment period. They can also explain the situation to family members and give them tools to help their loved one adjust to any hearing problems they may have.

Outside the Audiologist’s Office

Not all audiologists work at a hearing clinic or in a doctor’s office. Some focus on testing and do routine hearing tests on children at the grade school level or specialize in infant hearing loss. Others may travel to various job sites in order to evaluate the potential for hearing damage and recommend Hearing Safety Programs to job managers as a way to prevent future hearing damage to employees.

Research audiologists spend their days looking for ways to improve our current sound amplification devices from hearing aids to sound attenuation earmuffs for pilots. Although you may not see these researchers, they contribute a great deal to advancing the technologies that restore hearing to millions.

Audiologists are experts at explaining the details of hearing loss and how to use hearing aids. When you are at your audiology appointment, don’t forget to ask questions. A good audiologist will take the time to explain all procedures clearly and will give you the reassurance you need during any tests or procedures.

One of the most important studies in family medicine is the history. With the advances in genetic medicine, it is aided with gathering a complete and accurate research history through a medical tree or sort of a pedigree. Similar to a simple family tree, the research of this history through the pedigree or tree includes not only the relationships among members ofparents and children and earlier generations but also includes information for each person regarding diseases, age and the onset of the disease, cause of death and other relevant and necessary health information. This is a very important tool in the early study of the diseases and illnesses of the members since genetics tells that half of a childs genetic profile is from each of the parents.

Aside from helping the doctor interpret the patterns and history of diseases in the family, the medical tree also is vital for the doctor to assess and recommend steps that could be relevant to a family members health and well being. These recommendations aside from assessing your risk to certain diseases are things like recommendations for your diet and lifestyle changes, treatments for diseases that are already on going, recommendation on the proper diagnostic tests for further study and treatment of the on going disease, identify possibilities of such disease occurring in some members of it, and assessing the risk of passing the disease to your children and future offspring.

On the part of the doctor practicing medical for the family, they are encouraged to undergo continuing trainings that will make them consistently competent in providing the medical needs and be able to adapt to differing patient needs and the changes in medical care technology. This will include continuous training in maternity care, care of hospitalized patients, community and population health, and proficient and effective medical care that respects the culture and traditions of a family.