By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
The Affordable Care Act passed by Congress has prompted state governments to choose between creating their own health care exchange or allowing the federal government to establish and run an exchange in their state. In recent months, the Interim Health Care Committee studied and planned how best to implement a state-run exchange in North Dakota and presented its proposal to the State Legislature during November’s Special Session.
The proposal was defeated by the House, ending the state’s current chances to establish its own health care exchange and …

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Many issues impacting North Dakota businesses were discussed, debated and voted on during the 2011 legislative session, but a few key topics remain on the table for the upcoming special session scheduled to begin Nov. 7.
For the second time this year, state lawmakers will convene at the Capitol to tackle redistricting needs, health care reform and flood recovery. The session is expected to last five days and legislators will remain focused on a set agenda with few new bill introductions expected.
Interim Legislative Redistricting Committee members have …

As part of its ongoing efforts to serve the community, Medcenter One has created a new website devoted to flood-related health tips and news. On the website—medcenterone.com/flood2011—Medcenter One experts provide answers to flood-related health questions such as how to manage stress caused by a natural disaster and how to help children cope. The health system also will provide timely updates on its services if they are affected by flooding.
The health professionals featured in the Q&As on this website are available for media interviews. Please contact Kim Singer at 323-6312 or …

According to BCBSND, there are many factors affecting insurance premium costs for businesses. These include the health, age, and frequency at which members of the insurance group use the healthcare system.
The health and lifestyle choices of employees also play a key role in the use of the healthcare system and, in 2009, as a nation, more than 75 percent of healthcare spending was on people with chronic conditions.
In the recently released Thomson Reuters Workforce Wellness Index, six behavioral risk factors were determined to track the collective health of working Americans …

Heidi Meduna has recently been named as manager of Medcenter One Occupational Health Clinic in Dickinson. As manager, Meduna will be responsible for budgeting, staffing decisions and department policies. She also will provide day-to-day operational direction, leadership, management, customer service initiative implementation and customer obtainment and retention. Prior to this position, Meduna was supervisor at the clinic and has been with Medcenter One for two years.

The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce will hold a breakfast discussion on sustainable health care in North Dakota 7:30-9:30 a.m. Friday, March 11, at the Bismarck Radisson Inn Ballroom, 605 E. Broadway Ave.
Speakers include Paul von Ebers, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, and Dr. David Hanekom, vice president of Medical Management and chief medical officer at BCBSND. They will discuss the collaborative effort between BCBSND and North Dakota’s health care providers. BCBSND’s Sustainable Health Initiative aims to reduce the long-term average of medical inflation by …

March is here and hopefully spring is just around the corner. The Chamber board approved implementation of the new strategic plan and the staff has quickly begun implementation. If you recall, one of the major strategies in the new plan is to evolve the Chamber into the “thought center” for the community; in March, you will see two events that respond to this strategy.
The first event in the spirit of the new strategic plan is the National Hot Topic Roundtable on March 8. This luncheon, which will be hosted at …

By Dr. Arkapol Pyamahunt
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the lung’s airways characterized by a cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. In severe cases, the airways contract and the patient cannot get enough air into the lungs. The disease affects 22 million Americans, and more than 4,000 of them will die from asthma each year.
The first step an allergist will take when seeing a new asthma patient is to accurately diagnose the disease, its types and subtypes and severity. An allergist also will identify the role of external factors, including …

By Kelly Thorsness, DVM
You’re abruptly woken up from a deep sleep and pulled out of your warm house to a crowd of people. A shadow is seen and the angry mob blames you for six more weeks of winter. You think you’re having it bad this year? Seriously now, the ground hog goes back to sleep until spring and we have to deal with old man winter daily. The truth is we have a love/hate relationship for the northern Great Plains. Long cold winters have a history of bringing forth …

How many of us are in awe when we think about how fast times have changed and how far our human existence has progressed? The strides we’ve taken in the health care industry alone are amazing.
One of the most progressive areas is the science of prosthetics (artificial limbs). Did you ever think the Million- Dollar Man would be so close to reality? Or that people wearing prostheses would compete in major sports events against able-bodied athletes? Let’s go back in time to the Civil War to see just how far …

By Scott McFall
Maybe it’s time you try hypnosis. Today you are experiencing an American life that has major circumstances changing faster than the mind and culture could possibly keep up with. Compare this pace of change with the1950’s middleclass American values. With change comes stress. You can be sure that right now our country is experiencing large amounts of Cortisol (the stress hormone) and other chemical and physiological reactions to stress. As these reactions take place, the mind goes into a kind of numb denial about the changes we encounter.
When …

The North Dakota Department of Health encourages North Dakotans to call a new toll-free hotline with questions about H1N1 and seasonal influenza, according to State Health Officer Terry Dwelle, M.D.
The toll-free hotline number is 866- 207-2880, and it will operate from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Information about influenza also is available on the Department of Health’s hotline Web site at www.ndhealth.gov/EPR/HealthHotline or its influenza Web site www.ndflu.com.
“We want North Dakotans to be able to access the most current information available about H1N1 influenza, seasonal influenza and …

By D’Arcy A. Honeycutt, M.D.
Nationwide some plastic surgeons reported that cosmetic procedures were down 25-50 percent at the height of the recession. North Dakota has seen the influx of three plastic surgeons from areas hit by the recession. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that 10.2 million surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed in 2008, down from 11.7 million in 2007. Surgeons noted that many patients were postponing major procedures in favor of injectables and fillers. These office procedures are more affordable, cause little downtime and still …

By Medcenter One Occupational Health Clinic
Most people have fond memories of the classic family vacation––being squished into a car with travel games and snacks, the relentless “Are we there yet?” and the frequent bathroom breaks. However, studies show that unutilized employee vacation time is a current trend.
In 2009, 29 percent of Americans had no paid vacation time while 43 percent didn’t take a whole week of vacation time. A third fewer families take vacation now than in the 1970s.
For some, choosing to not take vacation days avoids putting their job …

By Cathy Deics
Trends come and go from one season to the next but when it comes to fueling the body one trend that appears to be here to stay is that Americans are doing a better job at eating to improve their health.
In fact, the 2008 International Food Council consumer attitude survey shows that two out of three Americans are willing to change their diet specifically to improve their health. While ongoing arguments continue about how to reform U.S. health care without increasing taxes or creating debt into the trillions, …