Christmas Gathering with Family - 2009

Ed and his family gathered for a happy Christmas Celebration the Saturday evening before Christmas. My youngest brother hosted our holiday party again this year, and it was a grand time for us all!

Upon Ed's arrival at B2's house, my brothers got our dad out of the car, into his wheelchair, and then hoisted him, chair and all, up the (rather steep) steps that lead up to the porch and into the front door. I know order cialis must have been nervous about his 'flight' up the stairs, perhaps worrying he may be dumped out on the ground, but the boys did a good job and not a even a hair was lost going up those stairs!

(Picture 1: cheap cialis enjoying Christmas Dinner.)

The house was full of brothers, sister-in-laws, an aunt, an uncle, moms and dads, kids and grandkids, and of course, Ed and Mama. There was even two cats and a pup in the midst at one time or another.

(Pic 2. Ed and Momma)

The aroma of both deep fried and roast turkey met us in the kitchen/dining area, along with dressing, greenbeans, potato salad, squash casserole, mashed potatos, sweet potato souffle, creamed corn, and apple-cheese bake. We all dug in after Courage's husband (SOL) blessed the food. After the meal, there was 9-layer chocolate iced caked and pecan pie for dessert. Everything was delicious and there were few left overs to be saved and taken home.

(Pic 3. With the grandkids.)

After partaking of the meal we all gathered in a circle with a pile of gifts in the center. The game of 'Dirty Santa' commenced and the gift most often stolen was an IPOD station thingy that you place your IPOD in and have the music play over speakers...and a bag of assorted whiskeys. Hmmm. The assortment of Dirty Santa gifts ranged from dishes to bath and body products to clocks and giftcards, and the aforementioned music machines and spirits.

Ed ended up with a $20.00 gift card to Walmart and Mama a set of colorful, vintage glass cooking bowls. I think both were satisfied with the results.

After all this excitement, Ed looked tired and both he and Mama seemed ready to go home. After a round of pictures were taken of different groups and then a whole group, Ed was bundled back up into his chair and carried back down the steps and tucked into the car.

(Pic 4. Me, Hubby and Ed.)

Back home, they both got ready for bed and waited for us to leave so they could lock up the house and crawl in bed. Me, I am driving home and thanking God above for another Christmas with them. Who knows when it will be the last?

(Pic 5. Dirty Santa Gift Pile)


(Pic 6. Ed, Mama and Children)

NHS Patient Choice - Lessons for medical tourism

In the UK, "patient choice" is one of the driving forces in healthcare. Since April 2008, patient choice has been extended in the UK. Patients can choose which cheap cialis they are treated in....anywhere in the country. Patients can choose the time of their cheap cialis appointment. In some cases, patients can choose the individual consultant they see. The NHS Choices website lists information about all NHS hospitals, such as their MRSA rates, facilities and ratings and reviews by patients which means that patients can make an informed choice.
The NHS Choose and Book web site enables people to make their choices.
In reality, the patient choice initiative has been a bit of a disappointment. One problem is that not enough patients are actually aware that they have a choice. The Report of the National Patient Choice Survey, England - December 2008 has analysed uptake of patient choice so far.
The key findings:

• The percentage of patients recalling being offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment was 46% in December 2008, the same as in September but up from 30% in the first survey (May/June 2006)
• 50% of patients were aware before they visited their GP that they had a choice of hospitals for their first appointment, up from 48% in September and 29% in the May/June 2006 survey.

The factors influencing choice

• Hospital cleanliness and low infection rates were given most often (by 74% of patients) as an important factor when choosing a hospital.
• The other five are quality of care (given by 64% of patients), waiting times (63%), the friendliness of staff (57%), the reputation of the hospital (55%) and location or transport considerations (54%).

So what can medical tourism businesses learn from this?

If UK patients can compare NHS hospitals on MRSA rates, post operative infection rates and outcomes, why can't they do this for overseas hospitals? Or perhaps, why is it difficult if not impossible to find a hospital treating medical tourists that publishs such data or makes it freely available on their web site?

Many people in the UK have the right under EU law to travel abroad for treatment. The EU Directive sets up a framework around this. but the basic right of free movement already exists. So, why aren't people taking advantage of this?

• They don't know they have the right.
• They don't "trust" overseas hospitals.
• They would rather wait for treatment on the NHS in their local area.

Awareness of overseas treatment options can be generated by the providers themselves. One of the best tools to consider is the use of patient stories to create local press coverage and thus raise awareness. See this story in the Scotsman. Let's see more of them!