Good morning everybody, and welcome to The Balancing Act.
We're so glad you're here.
I'm Julie Moran.
And I'm Olga Villaverde.
Alright, Health Matters on the show today as we take a look at those couples that are
struggling with infertility.
It can be devastating for those who can't conceive, but we've got hope for those that
are trying to become pregnant.
Also, they are known as EHRs or electronic health records, and you know they are used,
Julie, by physicians, pharmacies, hospitals and health care providers.
They're really good because it's the exchange of information that benefiting patients more
than ever.
I love that.
All that coming up, right now on the Balancing Act.
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There's nothing cuter than little ones, or learning you're about to become a mother,
unless of course you're unable to conceive, and each time you see a baby your heart saddens.
Infertility can be devastating.
In fact, one couple in 7 struggles to get pregnant, but there is hope.
Dr. Juliet Skinner, medical director at the Barbados Fertility Center joins me this morning
to discuss.
Good morning, Doctor.
Good morning, Olga.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you.
Doctor, let's talk about that, you know, people get married and they want to have a child,
they can't conceive.
It's painful, frustrating.
I could probably think of so many words of that anxiety that's going through them.
Infertility is a devastating medical condition.
Let's face it, many people spend years actually trying NOT to become pregnant.
Right, they're avoiding it.
They're avoiding it, and suddenly, the goal becomes a baby and a pregnancy, and this is
not happening.
So, huge frustrations build up.
I think they wonder, "Well, how long does it take to conceive?"
Well, most couples are going to achieve a pregnancy within six months.
The medical definition uses a timeline of a year before it's then appropriate to begin
medical assessment and treatment, unless of course the lady is older than 35, then in
that case the advice is altered, to being more than six months, we should certainly
investigate and treat those patients, because the success rates will decrease as a lady
gets older.
And doctor, I know there's many factors as to why someone can't conceive.
What are they?
Is it stress?
Environment?
Their body?
What?
Yeah, I mean, there's many factors that can perhaps be a problem.
I mean, I think one of the first steps we would take is to review the couple's history,
anything from their background.
For the lady, is her menstrual cycle regular?
Has she had any previous gynecological problems?
That initial history will allow us to perhaps establish some pointers of where we will turn
to.
The nest step would then be to evaluate and do what's called a primary fertility screen,
which would include a test of ovulation, test the tubal patency and a semen analysis.
If the lady is over 32, we're usually also going to do an ovarian reserve assessment,
because yes, a woman is born with all of her eggs.
We don't make them new.
And as we get older, the number and quality of those eggs will decline.
That's a huge factor and it's also a huge factor as to why is infertility now m ore
common than it was in our grannies era?
Because everybody, or most people, are having children later.
Correct.
So, for someone out there who says "Well, I have to look for that center" what should
they look for?
Well, I think choosing the right clinic is a huge decision.
I mean, ultimately, obviously success rate is extremely important.
But, unfortunately, IVF treatment is extremely costly, and particularly here in the US.
And, I don't think it's covered by insurance.
No, in most states it's not covered by insurance.
It's very much something someone pays for out of their own pocket.
Let's bring in Barbados Center.
A lot of people are going there.
Why are they going to that location?
Well, the first thing, I think is when we set Barbados Fertility Center up, it was set
up with a vision, which was that you know, one of the most important thing has to be
key that you are individualizing care.
That it's not a conveyor belt.
That each couple is different.
Is infertility stressful?
Yes.
But, I think we have to think beyond the basic science.
Science can push things so far, but we've got to take that holistic approach.
Let's face it, surely if we can combine IVF treatment, along side the fact that the patient
is also in a relaxed holiday setting, that's got to have a positive impact.
It's got to improve things.
So, you know, I think Barbados as a destination, is very established as a tourism product.
You know, we have twice daily flights from Miami and New York.
We have a wonderful group of hotels and accommodations, fantastic restaurants, and attractions for
people to entertain themselves.
At Barbados Fertility Center, we have a designated staff member, who is there to help make that
journey easier if need be.
I think that, as a center, we have a full compliment of a wonderful team of people.
One of those people, Dr. Roberta Corona joined us last year, and I think very very importantly,
we all have to have the same vision.
That vision has to be that a 1% improvement in a success rate is a baby for someone.
We must not lose sight of what we do.
And what you do is so special, and I have to an email from a couple who sent us their
thoughts on what happened with them, and this is what they wrote, and I'd like to share
that with our viewers.
They wrote "Last year, today, my dreams came true and I gave birth to my son.
This past year was the brightest and the happiest year of my life.
Any time I hold my baby, I keep telling myself this is nothing but a miracle."
How fabulous.
Yeah.
It is an unbelievably special feeling to do what we do.
You know, I think when a patient comes in to show you their baby, proudly, at the end
of delivery, or perhaps sends those early photographs and we get that call, we've had
calls from patients when the husband's calling, she's just delivered.
He's bawling crying, to let you know, and you're one of the first people that they ring.
Okay?
And I think what it does, it really grounds us.
I think it makes us remember why it is that we do what we do.
For our viewers out there that would like information on Barbados Center, what's the
website?
BarbadosFertility.com BarbadosFertility.com Thank you doctor, for
what you do.
If you'd like to learn more, log on to our website, TheBalancingAct.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Time again for today's tech tip.
These days kids are wizards when it comes to technology.
Today, our tablet and smart phone expert Elizabeth Little, of iRULU technologies is back again
to show how affordable tech for tots can be.
Welcome back.
Thank you.
Oh baby, this looks expensive.
You'd be surprised.
This little tablet sells for only $60.
Oh my gosh, that is amazing.
You know, tell me about the baby pad.
It really looks different than other tablets.
It is different from other tablets, Julie.
Everything about it was designed specifically for kids.
It has soft rails and rubberized corners to prevent scratched furniture, as well as injuries,
and it's built to be ultra durable to withstand drops.
I love it.
Alright, how about baby pad's software?
What makes it so special for kids?
Well, the interface is really colorful, and captivating and includes activities that kids
love, such as painting and photo editing.
Well, now, how can you guys at iRULU keep things so inexpensive?
I've got to know.
Well, we do it by selling 100% online through iRULU.com, as well as other retailers, and
we pass along that cost savings to our consumers.
And, what about, I think you've got a special offer today for Balancing Act viewers?
We do.
We have 20% off on iRULU.com plus free shipping for Balancing Act viewers.
Thank you so much or the deal for our viewers.
We love that.
Of course.
And if you'd like to discover more about the baby pad, visit us at TheBalancingAct.com
or socialize and log onto Facebook.com/TheBalancingActFans.
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With todays interconnectivity, no connection is more critical than information related
to our health.
Medical data used and shared by doctors, hospitals, and pharmacists must be accurate and instantly
accessible.
So important.
Carrie Bruening, director of marketing for AllScrips, a company dedicated to connecting
health care data joins us to kick off this discussion, and coming up a little bit later,
we're going to meet an IT specialist from MIT, who'll share some in depth insight from
the patient and provider's side.
Good morning.
Good morning, Olga.
It's so wonderful to be here.
I'm glad you're here, because I know we've come a long way when it comes to medical information
way back when to today.
Let's start with Carrie.
Why is it so important to kind of like connect all the dots with our medical data, our health
information?
Why is that so vital?
It's very vital to anyone, anyone whose had a family member with a chronic health issue,
or a complex health issue understands how important it is to connect those dots.
Once you start leaving the network of your primary care physician and start seeing a
specialist in cancer, or a specialist in surgery, they may not be using the same electronic
health record that your primary care doctor is using.
One of the really cool things about what our organization can provide to patients and their
family members is a website.
You can log in once and see what your specialist is doing for your care, what your primary
care doc is doing for your care, and even what your surgeon is doing for your care,
no matter what electronic health record they're using.
Now let me ask you something.
Your company, and I was reading this, AllScrips, it's describes itself as a technology provider
using a unique "open architecture."
What does that mean?
Open architecture allows computers from different companies to talk to each other behind the
scenes.
In health care, you have doctors, as we discussed before, who might be using different electronic
records, and you need to have one website where you can log in and get access to your
results from your specialist, access to your results from your surgeon, access to results
from your primary care physician without having to log into three different websites.
And let's talk about how this has really changed the way even doctors offices look like, because
when I was little, I was working at my dad's office to try to make a little bit more money.
He's a surgeon.
I remember him telling me "go get me this file, go get me this file on this patient"
and I would have to put those files back, and once I even put them in the wrong place.
It was a disaster.
Oh yeah.
I mean, it really didn't work, but it was all we knew.
That's really changed, and AllScrips has done a great job in changing that too.
Oh definitely, definitely.
You know, automating the paper was a huge step forward, as you know, working with your
dad, you were only allowed one copy of that paper medical record.
Right.
That means only the person who has the medical record can look at it, and that's very self
limiting in and of itself.
Nobody can get the big picture, so automating, with electronic health records, enables clinicians
to access your information on a need to know basis.
If they are involved in your care team, they can access your information.
They can update your information, even if they're not in the same physical location
that you are in.
It allows a lot more communication between you and the care team, as well coordination
of care.
Really making a big difference.
Okay, stay right there.
We're going to talk more about this, and I love hearing this form of moving forward.
When we come back, we're going to also hear from an MIT medical information systems expert.
We're going to examine the patient's side of information technology, how data can be
good for your health.
More when The Balancing Act continues.
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Welcome back.
We've been speaking with Carrie Breuning, director of marketing for AllScrips, and joining
us now Beth Downing, an Information Systems Senior Specialist at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, also know as MIT.
Good morning!
Good morning.
Pleased to meet you.
Oh I'm so glad you're here.
You must be real smart!
MIT!
I just work there.
I didn't go to school there.
You have to be smart just to work there, okay?
Let's talk about what we've been talking about this morning, regarding technology, the health
care industry and all the data.
What feedback are you getting from patients?
It must be great.
We have been getting very positive feedback from our patients with our new website, Follow
My Health.
For years patients have been asking for access to their medical records, and now they have
it.
Log into the website, they can access their laboratory and radiology results.
They can request appointments from their providers.
They can send secure messages to their providers, and they can also request prescription renewals.
All online.
And that's really great, because Carrie, I know that feeling when you go drop blood,
you want to know the results, you're waiting, you're calling, you're on hold.
You never get the answers.
Shazaam.
Now you can get them.
Can you add anything?
I agree with you.
I agree with Beth whole heartedly.
From personal experience.
I'm also a Follow My Health user, and with a history of breast cancer, every year when
you get the mammogram, you know the tension that creates, and being able to log in two
days after the mammogram and know that everything is okay, rather than waiting 10 days for snail
mail, makes a huge difference.
It's huge.
It's peace of mind for that matter, and I love that for myself, and my family.
Beth, what are some other positive advantages that you see when a patient is choosing a
doctor that is using and embracing AllScrips?
Mainly convenience.
If a parent, let's say, is making an appointment for one of their children, they can log on
to the website at any time that's convenient for them.
They don't necessarily have to play phone tag with the pediatrician's office.
They just log on and they request an appointment for their child.
Another advantage is prescription renewals.
If you need a medication renewed, you log onto the website.
Again, a time that's convenient for you, request the renewal.
The turn around time is very quick.
Carrie, let me ask you this.
You're a pediatric nurse, and you know a lot about all the records and the data, are there,
with clinicians using, and you call them EHRs, electronic health records, any problems with
that, that you see?
I can't speak to other electronic health record companies, but with AllScrips and the clients,
and organizations like MIT, that we work with, there's really a partnership on driving quality
and driving outcomes.
We've seen clients, obviously, like MIT, that are really working to engage and empower their
patients to take control of their health care, and we've worked with organizations to help
them achieve better outcomes related to mortality, improving the lengths of stay, getting you
out healthy, getting you out without side effects, without risks.
It's really a partnership towards improving the quality of health.
And Beth, this partnership, which is so important, because millions of people are using it now,
and following and using the portal Follow My Health, if I were a patient, say today,
and I'm looking for a new doctor, I could have moved, I could be living somewhere else,
or I just don't like my doctor anymore and I'm in search of one, does it behoove me,
or is it more positive if i choose one that is partaking?
It definitely does.
I would highly recommend choosing providers that embrace technology for a number of reasons.
One, the Follow My Health website is very easy to use.
Two, it's mobile.
You can also have it, there's an app for that.
There's an app for that, of course.
There's an app for that, on your mobile Apple and Android device.
They're continuing to develop the technology, so currently, as you can imagine, students
at MIT, they use mobile devices quite a bit, they can request to have their appointment
reminders, notifications, sent via a text message.
Oh that's great.
And Carrie, at the end of the day, and I'm going to have you close this out, I just feel
like it just helps the patient feel more empowered.
Exactly.
That's really what it's all about, is giving you control to drive your health care experience,
and to drive to a better quality outcome to you and your family.
Alright, let's drive our viewers for more information.
If they'd like to know more about this, where do they go?
They can go to MyHealthcareData.com.
Great information.
Thank you, Olga.
Thank you so much, Carrie.
Thank you so much, Beth.
God bless both of you.
If you'd like additional information on high-tech and your health, visit us at TheBalancingAct.com
or log onto Facebook.com/TheBalancingActFans.
(music).
Portions of today's show are brought to you by iRULU, makers of quality tablets and smartphones
that fit the family budget.
iRULU.
Today's hottest technology without the high price.
(music).
We hope you learned a little something on today's show, and hopefully couples who are
trying to have a family will be blessed with this renewed hope.
Absolutely.
In a beautiful place like Barbados, where I went on my honeymoon.
Really?
Yep, yep, yep.
Mmm...
Remember we've got lots more on our website, TheBalancingAct.com.
I went on a cruise.
Yours is better.
Check out our Facebook page.
Until next time, find your balance.
So long, everybody.
I should have thought of Barbados.
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