Health Uncle:Should You Get In The System Now

The Supreme Court's approval of Obamacare's constitutionality will not change U.S. healthcare overnight.It just means the provisions already in place are more secure,and that the major overhaul of the system slated for January,2014 will proceed as scheduled,barring the unlikely event of repeal by Congress.A certain momentum tends to build up behind safety net programs as more and more citizens benefit from them.Untold millions of Americans will enter the health care system for the first time-a system which reportedly lacks enough primary care physicians to accomodate them.
Americans who have insurance now,but haven't entered the system themselves yet,would be well-advised to do so,while there are still openings for new patients at their local  family practices.Many of them could fill up quickly once the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented in 2014.This is an opportunity for these undoctored insured to begin taking care of themselves and the health care system itself,which will still face rising costs in the decades ahead.

A Slightly High WBC Count:Why You Shouldn't Worry

If someone's white blood cell count is a little high,it often causes considerable fear,according to the anecdotal literature.Your doctor may not seem too worried,however.Why such an aggravating response?What if it's leukemia?
It could be a form of leukemia at a very early stage,of course,but it almost certainly isn't.Leukemia is a rare disorder.About 43,000 Americans were estimated to be diagnosed with it in 2010,for example.Even if it is leukemia,it likely isn't a highly dangerous type or acute phase.If it were,you would be so sick,the symptoms would be more prominent.You would need to be hospitalized.Your blood markers would be quite abnormal,not just a little.
What you probably have is a little cold virus or other infection passing through your system.The doctor has likely seen this many times.That's why,in the absence of other indications,there is little urgency.In that typical family practice,there have probably been few leukemia diagnoses in a given year.That's how rare the dread disease is.So don't worry.Follow your doctor's lead.Get a follow up blood test as recommended.You are almost certainly going to be O.K.
According to the most recent calculation,the five year survival rate for leukemia across the board was about 55% as of 2006.It's definitely a major problem for those relatively few who are ultimately diagnosed with it.They need all the treatment and other support they can get.
About 20% of people with leukemia are walking around undiagnosed,the American Cancer Society estimates.It's because they have few if any symptoms yet or the similarity of their symptoms to those of other diseases.

Grateful Patient Helps New Doctors

Five USC Keck School of Medicine graduates who are going into the primary care field have been awarded scholarships of 25,000 dollars each.The scholarships were provided by Carlton and Nancy Spencer.Mr.Spencer has wanted to assist primary care residents since he was diagnosed with a heart condition by his primary care physician,himself a Keck School alumnus,a few years ago and referred for emergency open heart surgery.
Primary care residents typically have a mountain of medical school debt to pay off with only modest earnings.Elizabeth Ortega,one of the recipients and a family medicine resident,said it's amazing.The scholarship just makes such a big difference.Other recipients include three other family medicine residents,as well as an internal medicine resident.
These are the first Keck School scholarships designated for certain primary care residencies.Primary care is seeing a growing shortfall of doctors as medical school graduates gravitate toward the more lucrative fields,at least partially in consequence of the need to retire their student loans.
The average cost of a medical degree,including room and board,has been estimated to be on the order of 150-300,000 dollars.
Founded in 1885,Keck is the oldest medical school in Southern California.It is located on the USC Health Sciences Campus,which is just east of downtown Los Angeles,and has an enrollment of 1200 students.

Who Owns St.Joseph Aspirin

St.Joseph Aspirin is a brand owned by Ilex Consumer Products Group,a subsidiary of private equity firm Ilex Capital Group.The longtime children's aspirin product received a new lease on life when research showed that a low dose aspirin regimen has numerous benefits for cardiovascular health,reducing stroke and heart attack risk,and even lessening the damage from a heart attack in progress.
More recently,it has been ascertained that an 81 mg aspirin regimen may help prevent colon cancer as well.Some people are allergic to aspirin.Others with sensitive stomachs may develop bleeding ulcers from taking aspirin.These are rare complications,however.The low dose aspirin regimen,with its minimal cost and multiple benefits,has become one of the most widely recommended in family medicine.
Ilex Consumer Products also owns the Calgon and Gourmet Dining brands.
Based in Annapolis,Maryland,Ilex Capital Group has client service offices in Baltimore and London.Private equity firms such as Ilex normally seek to optimize a brand until it is ready to sell or list for a substantial profit.