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Lengthy hospital stays are often infamously derided for their seemingly exorbitant price tags, unsavory-yet-overpriced food, and general patient dissatisfaction with their perceived level of quality of care. In all honesty, these sentiments --while potentially valid-- are also often somewhat unfair, and worsened by a lack of transparency and understanding of the basic economics that go into maintaining a viable hospital system operational, particularly within our current medico-legal environment. All that notwithstanding, there are very legitimate reasons for someone to search for alternative solutions to long-term care that are better suited to both the patient and their family’s lives. One of these potential alternatives is “hospitalization” at home.
Many hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) across the country are facing serious shortages of available hospital beds for inpatient care. As a result, many ED’s are stuck “boarding” patients in hallways for days or even weeks while they await a hospital bed to open up. Obviously, this is less than ideal for myriad reasons: it is uncomfortable and unpleasant for the patient; it increases potential exposure to pathogens and the development of new hospital-acquired infections; it increases wait times in EDs; and so forth.
Fortunately, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) actually have expanded their Hospitals Without Walls initiative by creating the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) program, which financially covers “hospitalization” at home. This program allows patients to remain in their homes with daily follow-up by healthcare providers, as the situation warrants. This daily follow-up can range from in-person nurse or physician visits (to administer medications, maintain intravenous (IV) lines, perform examinations, etc,), all the way to even virtual check-ins by a clinician to make sure everything is going well.
As one would assume, there are limitations to this program. The patient must be sufficiently ill to have otherwise warranted normal hospitalization. However, their condition must also be sufficiently low in severity and stable that they do not require immediate access to the lifesaving resources found in a physical hospital. The patient must be able to perform the basic activities of daily living, or at least have reasonable assistance available for certain limitations. Furthermore, admittance to the program requires an in-person evaluation from a physician. This can be performed in an ED or community clinic, where the physician determines the individual warrants hospitalization, but is safe to be admitted to the home hospitalization program. Alternatively, if the patient is already admitted to the hospital, their hospital physician may determine that they are stable enough to continue their “hospitalization” at home. The home must also be assessed to ensure it is a safe environment and meets basic criteria such as running water, indoor plumbing, heating and/or air conditioning, etc. A member of the clinical team must also meet with the patient at their home to go over the entire treatment plan and assess what additional steps might need to be taken (such as providing meals, for example).
Ideally, this program should offer greater convenience and comfort to suitable patients, while also reducing the inpatient costs and overcrowding burdens on the healthcare system. There are currently 53 health systems with 116 hospitals located across 29 states that have been approved for this program. To see if a hospital near you is participating in the program, you can check the following list published by CMS.
Theoretically, home hospitalization programs could help alleviate hospital crowding and extended ED “boarding” stays, in addition to possible savings on healthcare expenses. A study from Johns Hopkins found that home hospitalization cost roughly 32% less than traditional hospital care (an average difference of $5,081 vs. $7,480 for applicable hospitalizations). However, other studies have failed to show any significant difference in the average costs of home hospitalization vs. inpatient care. One might also worry about many possible unintended and unwanted consequences of a program such as this. For example, if it becomes easier for busy ED physicians to simply clear out patients by sending them back home under this program, you might find that the home hospitalization program becomes inappropriately overused, ultimately driving CMS costs up instead of down. The program might also be abused from the consumer side, where individuals seek out the comfort and/or benefits of this service inappropriately. Again, driving total costs up instead of down. However, for the time being, it is a potentially promising program that will undoubtedly need further tweaking as it matures.
If you or a loved one is facing a possible hospitalization --or are/is currently hospitalized-- consider asking your physician if their hospital is participating in a home hospitalization program and whether that is a suitable option for your treatment.
Sources:
It’s 2022, and although the healthcare system in the United States still falls short of being affordable for everyone, we are making headway. After the pandemic, online visits and telehealth services exploded to meet the new demand for contactless medical visits, and many states even changed legislation to pave the way for allowing this type of appointment.
Today, thanks to telemedicine, patients have greater access to doctors across the entire nation. Greater choice means greater competition, which drives prices down. And these telemedicine providers make things a little easier by offering easy-to-understand payment options for patients who don’t carry insurance, those with high-deductible plans, or whose insurance isn’t in-network. Many telemedicine providers offer a flat rate fee for appointments. For example, My Virtual Physician currently offers online appointments for $49.99 per visit for self-paying patients.
Telemedicine isn’t the only area of healthcare that’s growing toward the virtual market. Pharmacies are making their move into the digital space, too. And we can expect the same effect from the increased competition: lower drug prices.
Today, if you’re uninsured—or just want to pay for your medications without involving a health insurance company, that option is available, and it can even be affordable. In this article, we’ll cover options for self-paying patients to find affordable prescription medications.
You may think that paying outright for your prescription drugs, without insurance, would be completely unaffordable. But that’s not always the case. The price is often a mystery, though, unless you do your research before you tell your doctor which pharmacy to send your prescription to. That’s hard to do if you don’t know which medication your doctor will prescribe before your appointment.
In this blog, we’ll give you three options to consider to get the best price on your prescription medication without insurance.
First, let’s talk about prescription discount cards. You may have come across these through junk mail flyers, your employer handing them out, or even at the pharmacy counter. These cards are free to obtain and may or may not save you money on certain prescriptions. Some of these cards claim to save you up to 80% off the retail price of certain drugs.
An example of a company that offers these cards is Discount Drug Network. They offer savings by working with a network of pharmacies and stores that agree to lower drug prices when the card is used.
There is usually a marketing company behind these prescription discount cards. These marketers get access to data about when and where certain medications are purchased when you use their discount card.
Another thing to be aware of if your only plan for saving on prescriptions is a discount card is that it’s a case of trial and error; they don’t work for all medications, and there is a chance that the price of your medication may still be unaffected after scanning your discount card.
Discount cards also sometimes are only valid for a certain period or a certain number of uses. They also cannot be combined with insurance, so you can either use insurance or the discount card, but typically not both. These cards are not accepted at all pharmacies, and you should read the fine print so that you understand what you’re agreeing to by using them.
Our next option to consider for self-pay patients to save on medications is technically a type of prescription discount card, but with a twist. It’s a digital version of a prescription discount card: Good Rx.
If you have an idea of which medication you think your doctor will prescribe, then you can look it up on Good Rx’s website. You could download and use the Good Rx mobile app to look up the medication while you’re still at your doctor’s appointment.
The Good Rx app and website give you the tools to compare prices of specific medications at your local pharmacies. For example, when we look up Amoxicillin, which is used for treating bacterial infections, the current search results show the price of the drug from Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Meijer, Costco, Target, and Kroger. In this case, the price ranged from free to just over $10 for a bottle of 21 capsules.
To get the deal, GoodRx requires you to show the pharmacy a coupon to get the discounted price. Good Rx also provided three options to have the prescription delivered from an online pharmacy. The choices were DiRx, GoodRx Home Delivery, and HealthWarehouse, each with similar pricing to the local options.
Because GoodRx is technically a discount card, that means that you cannot use it together with insurance. So if you have health insurance, you’ll need to check if your co-pay price is lower than the GoodRx price in order to make sure you’re actually saving money by using the GoodRx in lieu of your insurance.
Another thing to know about GoodRx is that there is a paid membership option called GoodRx Gold. For an additional monthly subscription charge (currently $9.99/month), members can receive even further discounts on prescriptions and virtual doctor visits. If you have costly medications that need refilling each month, this option may be with the additional cost for some self-paying patients.
Keep in mind that GoodRx has to make money somehow—by showing you ads, providing premium services, and through referral fees for businesses. Since they are a for-profit business, that means that it’s possible that they steer you toward certain venues for healthcare visits and to purchase your medications.
Reviews online also show that some users experienced poor customer service when trying to address questions or problems with their discounts, app, or doctor visits.
A new option opened in 2022 for self-paying patients to get affordable prescription medications; it’s known as Mark Cuban’s pharmacy or Cost Plus Drug Company. Unlike GoodRx or prescription discount programs, which just save you money on another pharmacy’s medications by making deals with suppliers, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Co. is a true pharmacy itself. They negotiate directly with drug manufacturers and sell directly to consumers through employer-sponsored programs without excessive markups.
Here’s how Cost Plus Drug figures its drug prices:
Mark Cuban’s pharmacy is growing, making more deals with drug manufacturers, and working on building a manufacturing facility so that they can begin making the medications themselves to further cut down on the end user’s cost.
One example of extreme savings that you can get from Mark Cuban’s pharmacy is for the drug called Imatinib. The list price without insurance at most pharmacies is around $2,000. With insurance, it’s usually around $600. With GoodRx, the price varies from around $100 to $800. With Cost Plus Drugs, it sells for $14.40. See drug availability and pricing here.
Mark Cuban’s company is a disrupter fighting an uphill battle against the way things have been done for decades, with third parties getting big kickbacks from drug prices. That means that Cost Plus pharmacy’s current selection of drugs is limited to only the direct manufacturers that agree to work with them. Some companies are hesitant to participate for fear that they may lose their other partnerships in the business. Currently, their selection is nearing 1,000 generic medications and growing.
Like the other options mentioned above, if you do have insurance, it won’t do you any good at Mark Cuban’s pharmacy. Because the entire goal is to cut out the middlemen, only cash-paying customers can receive the steep drug discounts that Cost Plus Drugs offers.
Currently, Cost Plus Drugs pharmacy is only available online, and medications must be shipped. There are no physical stores that you can drive to in order to receive your medications from mark Cuban’s pharmacy.
To use Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs Pharmacy, first you’ll need to create an account. From there, it’s a three-step process. First, you’ll need to confirm whether your prescribed medication is available on their website, then your doctor will need to send your prescription directly to this pharmacy so that it can finally be mailed to your home.
Another pharmacy option for self-pay patients is Marley Drug, located out of North Carolina. This company began as a mom-and-pop local pharmacy and has grown to provide nationwide online prescriptions.
Marley Drug received national attention by offering big discounts on long-term prescriptions. You can get major price cuts plus free shipping by asking for a half or full-year supply of your regular prescription medications. Here’s the standard pricing for Marley Drug’s wholesale list:
For $37.00, you can receive a six-month supply—or for $70, you can get a full year of medications that are on their current wholesale price list of over 100 different drugs. To get prescriptions from Marley Drug, you’ll need to set up an online account, search for your medication, and have your doctor send over the prescription as they normally would to any pharmacy (e-scribe, fax, or call).
It’s not just their long-term prescriptions that are priced to sell at this pharmacy. Similarly to Mark Cuban’s pharmacy, Marley Drug prices all of its generic medications with minimal markup as well. They have more availability than Mark Cuban’s pharmacy of non-generic medications as well; however, you may need to call to verify before sending your prescription over.
There are a few drawbacks to choosing Marley Drug as your regular pharmacy. For one, unless you live near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, your only option to receive medications is through the mail. That means you won’t be able to walk in to get your medications the same day, and you’ll have to wait a couple of days for shipping unless you’re a local.
At Marley Drug, you won’t be able to get handwritten prescriptions filled without mailing the physical copy in for verification since no photos or faxes of handwritten prescriptions are allowed. If you need a prescription filled for a Valium, Ritalin, or biologic medication, you’ll also need to choose a different pharmacy because Marley Drugs cannot ship controlled substances or refrigerated medicines at this time.
Like the other options listed, Marley Drug keeps the cost down by cutting out the middlemen. That’s why you cannot use insurance with Marley Drug when choosing the mail-order
option. It can also require more work to find information about drugs that are available but not listed on the pharmacy’s website.
Paying for prescription medications out of pocket is not impossible. With new companies emerging and new technology that allows cutting out the middlemen—today, you have a lot more options to get affordable meds.
Let’s compare the options we have presented:
| Option | Price to enroll in savings | Drug Availability | Savings | Ease of Finding Pricing | How to Get Prescriptions |
| Prescription Discount Card | Free | Usually Name-Brand | Varies, you don’t know until you arrive at the pharmacy | Difficult | In-person or mailed |
| GoodRx | Free
OR Premium Gold option for $9.99/individual or $19.99/family |
Both Name-Brand and Generic, wide selection | Varies depending on location but pricing is transparent online | Easy (online or app) | In-person or mailed |
| Mark Cuban’s Pharmacy (Cost Plus Drugs) | Free | Limited selection
Generic only |
Only pay 15% above cost | Easy (online) | Mail-only |
| Marley Drugs | Free | Discounted items are limited to the wholesale list and generics but Name-brands are available | Flat pricing rate for drugs on wholesale list from $15 for a one-month supply | Easy for drugs on wholesale list, more difficult for other medications | Mail-only unless local
1 Location in Winston-Salem, NC |
Here are some key takeaways:
Regardless of which option you choose, My Virtual Physician makes it our mission to help patients find affordable healthcare solutions, and that includes affordable prescriptions. We know that if a medication is unaffordable, it decreases the likelihood of patients going through with the purchase and delays their well-being.
If your prescription is running low and you’re looking for new ways to afford your medication, reach out to My Virtual Physician today to get established as a patient so that we can help you choose the right pharmacy to get the best deal on prescriptions without insurance.
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Are you looking for a doctor who accepts Medicaid in Las Vegas? Nearly a million citizens are currently enrolled in Nevada’s Medicaid and CHIP program. It can be challenging to find a provider that accepts Medicaid. Luckily, My Virtual Physician is approved to accept Medicaid as payment for medical services, including doctor’s appointments. Patients can visit online or connect virtually with doctors at our physical hybrid location in Las Vegas, located at 2217 Paradise Road. Read more below to find out how to see a Medicaid doctor in our Las Vegas clinic (or online).
My Virtual Physician has a new physical location on Paradise Road in Las Vegas. At this hybrid location, patients looking for a Medicaid doctor in Vegas can have their vitals taken, get lab samples taken, and connect virtually with a doctor in a private room through our videoconferencing setup.
Whether you just need to get a quick covid test, physical exam, or get a prescription refill, our hybrid clinic in Las Vegas is set up to handle your basic medical needs. We have primary care physicians as well as specialists on staff to meet with you today. Our Nevada specialists include:
Read more about our doctors and which states they are licensed to practice in.
Check the clinic’s current hours here before you visit. As you walk into our clinic, our medical assistant will make you comfortable and take your vital signs for the doctor’s review. You’ll be guided to a private room to meet virtually with one of our doctors via our secure videoconferencing setup. Upon leaving, if you were prescribed any medications, you can either head to the pharmacy or head home to wait on your order-by-mail prescription. We cater to meet patient needs, so just let us know which pharmacy option you prefer during your visit.
If you prefer to schedule an appointment time rather than wait during a walk-in visit, My Virtual Physician welcomes you to reserve an appointment time by filling out the form on this page.
You have options to either book an appointment for a virtual visit on your own equipment (smartphone or computer) from any location in the state or at our physical hybrid location at 2217 Paradise Road in Nevada. Both ways to see your doctor are covered by Medicaid.
If you schedule an appointment time at our hybrid clinic in Las Vegas, your experience will be similar to the walk-in option above. Our medical assistant will welcome you, collect any samples and vitals as needed, and show you to a secure room where you’ll visit privately online with one of our doctors.
A third way to see a Medicaid doctor in Las Vegas is through online appointments. While you’ll need to be a resident of Nevada for the visit to be covered by Nevada Medicaid, you may still be covered by your state’s Medicaid plan in other regions. Check our coverage map and payment page to see if your state’s Medicaid plan is included in our coverage area.
Currently, other states with Medicaid coverage with My Virtual Physician include: Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, and New York.
To schedule your online appointment today, click below.
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Regardless of which part of the state you’re located in, if you prefer not to physically travel to our hybrid clinic, you don’t have to. If you have a smartphone or computer that can record video and sound, then you can meet with our Medicaid doctors through a telemedicine visit online.
The process works as easily as this:
Today, getting medical care is simple and easy. You can quickly find doctors in Las Vegas who take Medicaid. And care is available through a variety of channels, including in-person, hybrid clinics, or 100% virtually. My Virtual Physician is here to help make healthcare more accessible to those who need it, including those who have Medicaid.
Many things in life take preparation. Sometimes couples have happy accidents, but other times, trying for a baby takes a little work upfront. If you’re in the second boat, you may be in the preconception planning phase.
So if you’re here to make sure you’re in good shape for pregnancy—then you’re in the right place. This post will cover a checklist of items you can tackle to ensure your best chances for conception.
Pregnancy is hard on a woman’s body. There are steps that a woman can take to make it a little easier to prepare for this life-changing event. Preconception health happens before a couple tries for a baby; it looks at the overall health of a woman before conception to optimize her chances of getting pregnant. Preconception planning includes observing and adjusting diet, lifestyle, stress level, and other factors to set a couple up for success.
While these are great tips for any woman at any time, adopting these changes three months before trying for a baby can help improve preconception health.
Use this preconception checklist to help boost your chances of pregnancy.
Your baby will depend 100% on your body for nutrition. That means that if you’re malnourished, then your baby will not be able to get the best nutrients through the umbilical cord. Here’s a list of FDA-recommended foods for future moms:
Make small changes to your diet to try to incorporate more variety into your diet. Avoid foods such as rice, which can contain naturally-occurring arsenic and certain types of fish that are high in mercury.
If you’re taking any natural supplements, prescriptions, or over-the-counter medications, be sure to reassess whether they are compatible with pregnancy. Consult your doctor before conception to make sure that you’re not taking any medications that could harm your baby or your fertility.
There are supplements that can help with fertility and embryo development. Folic acid, naturally occurring as folate, is the most well-known one. This vitamin is known to help prevent birth defects in the developing baby’s spine and brain. The CDC-recommended dosage is currently 400 mcg daily and has even mandated fortification of cereal grains to reduce deficiencies in this B vitamin.
Optimize your fertility by reducing your consumption of harmful chemicals such as alcohol, beverages, and sugar. Quitting bad habits before you try for a baby is one way to take action and let your body know you’re ready to nurture a baby in the womb. Drugs are detrimental to you and your baby’s health. Make a commitment to break the habit before you try to conceive.
Related: Naturally Boost Your Fertility at Home
Exercise releases endorphins and reduces stress. Now is a great time to develop a routine for regular exercise if you have not already been active. Simply adding more walking to your daily routine can be enough to get your heart pumping. Take this time for you now to establish healthy habits; because once the baby is born, getting out will have additional challenges.
In addition to these changes you make while you are getting ready for pregnancy, you can also begin observing your body’s natural cycles. This is the perfect time to identify your fertility window. First, you’ll need to stop taking any hormonal birth control that you’ve been on. Next, you’ll observe the day that your period starts naturally. About 14 days after your period starts is when you are most fertile.
You can read more about tracking your cycle and identifying your fertility window in the article below that discusses the FAB method. While the related content is talking about preventing pregnancy, you can apply the same technique to identify your most fertile days for when you begin trying to conceive. Start tracking now so that you don’t have to guess later down the road.
Related: Natural Birth Control: Fertility Awareness Pregnancy Prevention
Checking your fertility is easy today with at-home testing kits from organizations like Orchid, My Virtual Physician’s partner in at-home fertility testing. Not only can you have test kits sent directly to your home with a return label to send to a lab for full analysis, but the cost is affordable. You can get your results before stepping into a doctor’s office. At-home fertility tests are a quick way to rule out any fertility hiccups that may need to be addressed before conception.
Related: How Can I Test My Fertility at Home?
At-home fertility tests aren’t just for women! Orchid offers two types of fertility tests for men who want to make sure their sperm and reproductive potential are in good shape:
Read more about how to get an affordable at-home male fertility test done in these articles:
As complex and unique beings, sometimes other factors can affect your fertility. If you have a complicated health history that might interfere with your ability to conceive, bring it up in your pre-pregnancy checkup with your doctor.
Here’s a handful of health-related concerns to discuss with your physician:
Come to your pre-pregnancy checkup prepared to discuss your full medical history along with any ongoing conditions that may be impacted by your pregnancy (or vice versa). And if you’ve already taken an at-home fertility test, bring the results! Your doctor can help guide you to take the right corrective actions to make your dream of having a baby come true.
All that planning pays off. Making small adjustments now can increase your chances of success down the road. When you’re ready, reach out to the OBGYNs at My Virtual Physician to schedule your preconception planning visit, get your prenatals, and order your at-home fertility tests.
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Diaphragms come in sixth place when it comes to contraceptive effectiveness with typical use. Check out the lineup of current pregnancy prevention methods recognized by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and see how they rank up below.
| Effectiveness Ranking | Contraceptive Method | Pregnancies per 100
Users in 1st Year |
Effectiveness |
| 1 | Implant | .05 | 99.95% |
| 2 | Sterilization (Permanent) | .2 to .5 | 99.5 to 99.8% |
| 3 | IUD | .2 to .8 | 99.2 to 99.8% |
| 4 | Injection (Hormonal) | 6 | 94% |
| 5 (tied with patch & ring) | Pill | 9 | 91% |
| 5 (tied with pill & ring) | Patch | 9 | 91% |
| 5 (tied with pill & patch) | Vaginal Ring | 9 | 91% |
| 6 | Diaphragm | 12 | 88% |
| 7 | Male Condom | 18 | 82% |
| 8 | Female Condom | 21 | 79% |
| 9 | Cervical Cap | 17 to 23 | 77-83% |
| 10 | Sponge | 12 to 24 | 76-88% |
| 11 | Natural Fertility Awareness | 24 | 76% |
| 12 | Spermicide (alone) | 28 | 72% |
You’ll see that the contraceptive diaphragm is around the middle of the pack when it comes to preventing pregnancy. But it doesn’t necessarily have to get stuck in the middle—there are several ways to supercharge your diaphragm’s efficacy to move it further up the list, creating a closer-to-perfect method of birth control. Let’s see how it’s done.
Even if you’re not any good at math, it’s easy to see how combining different contraceptive methods can make your chances of pregnancy plummet. So if a diaphragm has an effectiveness of 88% and male condoms have an effectiveness of 82%, using a diaphragm with a condom will drastically improve your protection against pregnancy, with the added bonus of shielding you from certain STDs.
You can get even better results from using the diaphragm together with a hormonal contraceptive. Talk to your doctor about your options and never combine multiple hormonal contraceptives (see chart: all of the methods above the diaphragm are hormonal, except sterilization).
Diaphragms are versatile and can be used with many other contraceptive methods, including natural family planning methods like the FAM or FAB methods. Even the withdrawal method (also known as “coitus interruptus” or “pulling out”) will significantly increase your diaphragm’s success rate. Combining other contraceptive methods with your diaphragm is a surefire way to amp up your pregnancy prevention effectiveness.
Related: Natural Birth Control: Fertility Awareness Pregnancy Prevention
Using spermicide with a diaphragm is a MUST. That’s because sperm can survive inside a woman’s body for up to two days. That means that simply barricading the cervix with a diaphragm alone for six hours after ejaculation may not block or remove all sperm. Spermicide kills sperm and it takes around six hours to get the job done. That brings us to tip #3.
Never remove your diaphragm less than six hours after sex. Doing so puts you at risk for pregnancy since the spermicide may not have killed all the sperm, meaning some live sperm may still be left inside your body. Carefully read your diaphragm’s instructions for timing when to insert and when to remove it.
For insertion, you need to know that spermicide is most effective if applied less than two hours before sex. If you insert the diaphragm earlier than this, you can add more spermicide.
As with all birth control methods, consistency is key. Since we’re all human, it’s possible that sometimes we aren’t perfect. That’s why many studies show two rates for effectiveness: typical vs. perfect use. Typical allows for human error, while perfect is reserved for those who have immense self-control. For example, the Caya Contoured Diaphragm has an effectiveness of 86% for those who use it perfectly every time and 82% for typical use. Using your diaphragm every time you have sex, and following the instructions perfectly, can increase the effectiveness by up to 4% for this particular type of diaphragm.
Our final tip for maximizing your diaphragm’s pregnancy-preventing powers is to make sure it’s in place properly. Inserting a diaphragm can definitely take some getting used to and practice makes perfect. There are some things you can do to verify that you’ve got it in right.
Once you’ve inserted your diaphragm based on the instructions provided, you can feel with a finger to verify that your cervix is covered by the diaphragm’s barrier material. Another way to check that your diaphragm is correctly placed is to move around—squat, jump, twist, and turn! You shouldn’t be able to feel the diaphragm and it shouldn’t get dislodged with movement. If you can check these boxes off, you’ve got it inserted correctly.
Related: Diaphragms as a Contraceptive: What’s It Like to Use One?
Pregnancy prevention is an important part of women’s health. Birth control should be effective and manageable without causing you any additional health problems. My Virtual physician is here to help you find the method that works best with your body. If you’re considering the diaphragm or any other methods, reach out to our team today to discuss your options and get your prescription.
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According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, nearly 2.5 million Americans are affected by hospital-acquired pressure ulcers each year. What is more concerning is that about 60,000 patients die annually as a direct result of a pressure injury. Pressure injuries are costly, painful, and dangerous. Those that develop while in the hospital may require special care when returning home.
A hospital-acquired pressure injury is a skin injury or bedsore that occurs during a patient’s hospital or nursing facility stay. It is a pressure injury that is caused by a breakdown of the skin or underlying tissue. Pressure injuries may occur due to several factors, including:
While recovering in the hospital, you may get pressure sores from lying or staying in one position for a long time, especially over bony prominences.
Common pressure sore locations include:
Pressure injuries and skin tears take a long time to heal. Thus, having a wound or pressure injury wound may prolong a hospital stay. Pressure injuries may become severe and cause infections or permanent muscle or bone loss.
When it is time to return home from the hospital, you may still have open areas or ulcers.
Here’s what to keep in mind when it comes to caring for your hospital-acquired pressure injuries at home.
If you have an open wound but are unsure if it is a true hospital-acquired pressure injury, you must still take measures to help the skin heal and prevent further problems.
To care for broken skin or wounds at home, you should:
While many injuries heal on their own with time, you should call your doctor if the area looks worse or if it doesn’t heal in 7-10 days.
You should also call your doctor immediately to have a look at your wound if you notice these signs of infection:
Patients or caregivers must give special care to skin ulcers and hospital acquired pressure injuries to prevent complications.
If you need to talk with one of our expert doctors or you want to learn more about virtual services, contact us now to find out about how to book a free or low-cost appointment. My Virtual Physician offers video consultations for pressure injuries and other wounds.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. The information, graphics, and images on this site are not intended to substitute diagnosis or treatment by a medical professional. Always seek the advice of a licensed physician for any questions you may have regarding a specific condition.
"Bedsores (pressure ulcers)". mayoclinic.org. Accessed July 20, 2022.
"Dressing interventions to heal pressure ulcers". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed July 20, 2022.
"Pressure Ulcers". aafp.org. Accessed July 20, 2022.
"Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Hospitals". ahrq.gov. Accessed July 20, 2022.
Sarah Falcone, BSN, RN, WCN-C, CSWD-C, is a certified wound care nurse, nursing consultant, and health content writer in Fort Worth, TX. She works with clients in home health, wound care, and telemedicine. Sarah is a passionate advocate for moving advanced levels of care to the home, where her clients can safely receive the medical treatments they need with greater satisfaction and comfort. She focuses on patient experience, outcomes, and advancing clinical models using innovative technology to serve patients better. Sarah draws from 15 years of practicing patient care and nursing leadership to share her own nursing experiences and expertise online. Connect with her on LinkedIn!
The recent outbreak of monkeypox across the world has caused growing concern. The virus is usually considered rare and has historically been constrained to those who live in, or have visited, countries in Africa.
The CDC is monitoring the situation, which puts the United States fourth on the list of 59 countries with outbreaks that have not historically encountered the disease. There have been just over 1,050 confirmed cases of monkeypox this year in the United States as of July 13, 2022.
You are at risk if you come into close physical contact with someone who has monkeypox. Current maps show all but nine states within the US have confirmed cases of monkeypox. The states with the highest numbers include California, New York, and Illinois, each with over 150 cases. Men who have sex with other men may be at an increased risk.
Monkeypox infections incubate for one to two weeks, followed by initial flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes, ending with an evolving rash that can last several weeks.
The symptoms of monkeypox are:
The rash from monkeypox is distinct and resembles blisters or pimples on the face, inside the mouth, or on the body. The rash moves to different areas of the body and the lesions change from fluid-filled, to pustules, to scabs. It can take up to four weeks for the rash to subside.
If you believe you have signs of monkeypox, self-isolate at home away from family and pets until symptoms subside. You can schedule an online appointment with your healthcare provider to confirm the diagnosis and receive supportive care.
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Diagnostic testing is currently available through lesion swab sample collection through Quest Diagnostics.
If you have a rash and are concerned that you may have the virus, My Virtual Physician is able to provide monkeypox testing at our hybrid locations in Las Vegas, NV.
You can limit the spread of the virus by avoiding close contact with anyone who has monkeypox or shows symptoms. There is an incubation period of 1-2 weeks after exposure, so if you have been exposed, you may need to isolate yourself well before you have symptoms.
Frequent handwashing will also help minimize exposure and spread. Vaccination is available and recommended if you have been exposed or are at high risk of exposure.
There is no treatment for monkeypox and in most cases, the body heals on its own. A person is no longer contagious once his scabs have fallen off. In some cases, patients may require antibiotics if skin infections develop.
My Virtual Physician is committed to monitoring the monkeypox outbreak and helping our patients who may be affected. Contact us now to find out if you should be tested.
Do you have a doctor’s appointment coming up? What kinds of emotions conjure up when scheduling the appointment? Anxiety? Annoyance? Dread? For many, just the thought of setting up healthcare commitments can be overwhelmingly negative.
Not to mention the eventuality of going through with the actual appointment. There’s a lot that can and will go wrong if you tolerate bad behavior from your healthcare provider. If your healthcare experience has been a thorn in your side, then you might be considering leaving your doctor. And you may be wondering–what are my options?
We know what it’s like to begrudgingly drag yourself to the doctor only to have the same terrible experience over and over again–and we also know the temptation to skip checkups to avoid the discomfort altogether. But is it enough to warrant the drastic step of switching doctors? Well, the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and expecting different results. Why not give something new a try?
Whether it’s your primary care physician–or your gynecologist–that you’re looking to replace; our team of Las Vegas doctors are here to step in and provide the care you deserve. We want you to know that you do not have to accept sub-par healthcare services any longer. We created this reference to help you make the decision.
If you’re unhappy with your healthcare experience, it’s likely that one, or a combination, of the below experiences has happened to you. Let’s cover some common reasons that patients decide to call it quits and find a new doctor.
In relationships–whether personal or professional–communication is the keystone that holds everything together. In a doctor-patient relationship, both parties need to feel safe and comfortable to communicate openly. That way, the doctor can make a proper assessment and diagnosis because the patient shared all pertinent facts, symptoms, and concerns.
If you feel your doctor is doing any of the following during your visit, it’s a red flag:
A minor occurrence here and there may be excusable, but if you have an overall bad experience every time you see your physician that leaves you feeling deflated and drained, then it’s likely time for a change.
You’ve done your part and shared all the juicy details of your symptoms with your Las Vegas OBGYN, but you are still sick! If you’ve been prescribed medication that worsens or does nothing for your symptoms and your doctor isn’t willing to correct it or make suggestions for something better, that’s a problem. Make sure you’re working with a physician who is your advocate, who listens to your concerns, and who is competent enough to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Something that might be even worse than the wrong treatment is when your doctor tells you nothing can be done. If you feel like your doctor ignores your concerns, gives ambiguous answers to your questions, or is uninformed about the latest medical advancements and treatment options, then it might be time for a second opinion.
Seeing your doctor should not require you to use vacation time; but unfortunately, the traditional in-person experience at a doctor’s office still requires it. How much time do you spend on your appointment?
Depending on your personal factors, the whole process of a simple doctor appointment will take a minimum of two hours, and in worst-case scenarios, up to four hours out of your day.
It’s often a frustrating experience with little or no apology for keeping you waiting. If your doctor often runs behind and has no consideration for your time, it can be a damaging combination. Pile on top of that a doctor whose assistant calls to cancel and reschedule your appointment (that has been booked a month in advance) for no reason, and you are officially feeling violated.
Customer service should not go out the window when it comes to healthcare. Don’t allow your doctor or the facility to walk all over you and take advantage of your time. A recent study showed that 8 in 10 patients factor in customer service when they choose healthcare providers. If your provider won’t administer consistently good customer service, find another who will.
And the last straw to cutting ties with your healthcare provider is when it affects your pocketbook. Healthcare costs can be vague, confusing, and mysterious, especially when health insurance factors in. If you’ve ever asked for the cost of your appointment beforehand, you’ve likely received a confused look and some jargon about not knowing which medical billing code will be used.
That explanation is becoming less and less accepted by patients as pricing transparency is in demand. If you need to know how much your healthcare will cost up-front, there are doctors who will provide it willingly. Your doctor should also be considerate of your financial situation when prescribing treatments and offer less expensive alternatives when appropriate.
If the above scenarios are recurring every time you see your doctor, you may be ready to move on. You’ve got three basic options to choose from:
Option #1, switching doctors within the same facility, is viable if you believe it is strictly a personal shortcoming of your doctor, but won’t do much for facility-wide dysfunction.
Option #2, switching facilities and doctors, is a good choice if you prefer in-person visits but have reason to believe there are facility-wide functioning problems with the original clinic.
Option #3, finding a doctor online, will usually solve all of the concerns and inherent problems of traditional brick-and-mortar facilities. Here’s why:
My Virtual Physician is proud to offer online gynecology, pediatrics, and primary care–along with hybrid healthcare options in Las Vegas. We strive to provide an excellent patient experience that meets you where you are. Check out our testimonials to see what our patients are saying about us and make the switch today!
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Telemedicine gained a foothold during the pandemic. By the end of 2021, digital doctor visits had increased by 63% over two years, according to a government study. And the trend seems to be holding strong, with many physicians and facilities–Las Vegas gynecologists included–continuing to provide telehealth access, post-pandemic.
While telemedicine has proven valuable and trends show that it’s here to stay, there are some limitations. In this blog, we’ll briefly cover some obstacles inherent to telehealth along with our proposed solution: hybrid clinics.
While telemedicine was literally a life-saver throughout the pandemic, it comes with its limits. The most glaring limitation is the lack of a hands-on physical exam. For standard consultations, this is usually not an issue; but if certain diagnostic services are required, like pelvic exams or getting labs done, it gets a little trickier.
Another problem that telemedicine presents is patient access. Telemedicine requires some expensive equipment that not all patients have on hand; that we often take for granted. A virtual visit requires the following:
Even if you do have this equipment, you still must count on many factors to be in working order to participate in telemedicine appointments.
Related: Telemedicine Improves Access to Prenatal Care, But Can We Improve Access to Telemedicine
A third limitation of telemedicine is simply that some patients prefer the traditional visit to a doctor’s office. An in-office visit to a clinic where a real person is physically present to assist is preferable to some, especially those who are technology-illiterate, have certain disabilities, or struggle with the English language.
For those who feel telemedicine is not suitable to meet their comprehensive healthcare needs, hybrid clinics provide another pathway. My Virtual Physician is embracing this new solution, which offers our patients a new healthcare experience where they can have their gynecology or other healthcare needs met right there on the Las Vegas strip.
A hybrid medical clinic is a physical building that offers some of the same services that you would expect from a traditional in-person doctor’s visit while also providing the equipment to meet virtually with your doctor. My Virtual Physician’s hybrid clinics are located at:
Our hybrid clinic will open its doors to walk-in patients as well as those who schedule an appointment. As you enter the clinic, our Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) will welcome you, take your vital signs, and collect any urine samples, if required. You’ll then be guided into a private room where the telehealth equipment is set up for you to meet virtually with our board-certified physicians. Our staff is here to help in the event that you need any further assistance.
Just a handful of the additional services that we can provide inside our hybrid clinics include the following:
*by appointment only when a nurse or specialist is required
Related: My Virtual Physician’s List of Women’s Telemedicine Services
My Virtual Physician is excited to offer this new hybrid option to patients who prefer the in-person experience or who do not have access to the special equipment required for virtual visits or special services. While we understand that the hybrid clinic is not for everyone, or maybe just not for every visit, we have made it a priority to provide a physical alternative to the fully digital world of telemedicine.
Our intention is to provide value to our patients by offering in-person services as an option at our hybrid clinics. We deliver this as a solution to the limitations we find in telemedicine alone. Our hybrid clinic provides a nearby physical hub for specimen collection, as well as ultrasound, for prompt confirmations and diagnoses.
Our hybrid clinics will provide a safe, private, and well-equipped place for you to meet virtually with your OBGYN in Las Vegas to discuss your health needs. Come visit our friendly staff at our two hybrid locations today!
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So you’ve heard the acronyms OB and OBGYN, but have you put much thought into what the terms mean? In this blog, we’ll cover what an OBGYN is exactly, what an OBGYN does, and then we’ll share some details about our team of Las Vegas OBGYNs.
OBGYNs are doctors who specialize in the female reproductive system. The acronym can be written several ways:
All of these are acronyms for “obstetrician-gynecologist.” Let’s break that down. Obstetrics and gynecology are broken into separate terms to describe whether the woman under the physician’s care is pregnant or not. In other words–if you’re pregnant, you’re going to your OBGYN for obstetrics care; if you’re not pregnant, you’ll go for gynecology.
The obstetrician part is where we get the acronym OB. Obstetrics is the practice of meeting the medical needs of women during pregnancy, delivery, and post-delivery. Obstetric care also includes prenatal monitoring of the baby while in the womb. At birth, newborn care is handed over to a neonatologist and soon thereafter, medical care of the infant is transitioned to a pediatrician. Obstetrics requires close monitoring of the growing baby from a few weeks after conception to birth, including:
An OBGYN will continue to care for the new mother during the postpartum period to monitor that her body heals and that postpartum depression, if present, is managed.
The second part of the OBGYN acronym is the gynecologist. A gynecologist specializes in caring for women’s reproductive systems. This can include diagnosing and managing ongoing conditions, such as painful or irregular menstrual cycles, or short-term needs such as regular STD testing. Gynecology also includes the implementation of contraceptives such as IUDs or birth control pills. Here’s a list of gynecological services that My Virtual Physician’s Las Vegas Gynecologists provide:
As the breasts are a part of the woman’s reproductive system, gynecologists also conduct cancer screenings.
There is a lot that goes into becoming an OBGYN. A bachelor’s degree plus four years of medical school is the basic requirement for medical doctors. OBGYNs must complete an additional four years of residency, to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology. That means your OBGYN has at least 12 years of training and education under his belt before licensure.
Once all education and residency requirements are met, OBGYNs must pass state-specific licensure exams. The exact requirements vary depending on the state. Board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology is not required, but this endorsement shows your OBGYN’s competence and commitment. In order to maintain voluntary certification, your OBGYN has to take a maintenance exam every six years.
At My Virtual Physician, we currently have two board-certified OBGYNs ready to see patients. Let’s get to know them a little better.
Dr. David Howard is the CEO and founder of My Virtual Physician. He is a board-certified OBGYN licensed in several states including:
Dr. Howard, a Jamaican native, achieved the following education and credentials:
In addition to his training, Dr. Howard has been named a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Read more about our doctors.
My Virtual Physician is proud to have Dr. Radihka Sharma serving our patients with their obstetrics and gynecology needs. Her education was completed at Saba University School of Medicine with residency at Aultman Hospital. She is board-certified and specializes in pelvic floor disorders and reconstruction.
OBGYNs provide essential healthcare services for women. With this blog, we hope that you have a better understanding of the services that your Las Vegas OBGYN can provide for you, whether it’s gynecology or obstetrics.
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If you’re living in Las Vegas, you may have struggled to find the right fit when it comes to an OBGYN that you are truly comfortable with. But even with the local physician shortage, you don’t have to sacrifice on your healthcare–thanks to technology and telemedicine. Have you considered the power that you hold when it comes to making this important decision?
Choosing a gynecologist is a personal decision and usually leads to a life-long patient-doctor relationship. Don’t limit yourself to your geographical circumstances. In order to find the best fit, you may need to consider stepping outside the box and trying something new: seeing your physician virtually, known as telemedicine.
But this blog isn’t about the benefits of telemedicine, if you want to read more on that subject check out the links below:
Instead, we’re going to take a look at whether it matters if you choose a male or female OBGYN. While there is likely no definitive answer regarding which gender is better at the job, personal preference is a different story. You usually wouldn’t factor gender into the equation when selecting your doctor, but when choosing your Las Vegas gynecologist, it could play a factor.
Studies have found that most women prefer female gynecologists. The reason behind the results is likely due to the social stigma related to the sex organs and discussing your sex life. Culture has taught us that men usually do not want to participate in any conversation surrounding the topics of periods, pregnancy, or problems down there.
Another reason that many women prefer a female OBGYN is that a female doctor has life-long experience living in the female body, with the female reproductive system. They may have personally experienced some of the conditions that patients face. You may feel more understood by a doctor who shares the same gender.
Some women prefer male gynecologist. One reason may be that traditionally, the role of the doctor was filled by males. Males are already accepted in the medical field as trusted providers and well-established in obstetrics-gynecology.
Another reason some women choose a male gynecologist is that males may be more sympathetic than female OBGYNs. The explanation behind this reasoning is that doctors who have experienced the same female reproductive problems as their patients may be a bit desensitized, and therefore more dismissive, of patient complaints since their own experience plays a factor in their assessment. For that reason, a male gynecologist might tend to be more compassionate to a patient’s needs.
Many women do not make the final decision of choosing their gynecologist based on gender alone. While it may be a consideration after the initial consultation, it’s generally a supporting factor rather than a deal-breaker. For example, if a patient feels the doctor is competent and has a great bedside manner, gender may not be a consideration. However, if a patient feels the experience was less than ideal, but the doctor seemed competent, gender may play into the decision of whether to return or find a new physician.
Choosing your Las Vegas OBGYN is a personal decision. With a world of possibilities open to you via telemedicine options, you can find the right gynecologist for the best patient experience, regardless of whether you prefer a male or female physician, or have no preference.
Related: Getting it Right: Choosing the Best Gynecologist in Las Vegas
At My Virtual Physician, we make patient satisfaction a priority by staffing multiple board-certified OBGYN physicians; we are certain that you’ll have a great patient experience with a physician that suits your healthcare needs.
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This past year tested many young businesses. Telemedicine is not new. But the My Virtual Physician (MVP) business model is. The virtual doctor practice offers the best in online doctor services as a direct-to-consumer multi-specialty provider licensed in multiple states. Regardless of 2020's challenges, the MVP virtual doctor team didn't slow down. They focused on their path to becoming the #1 online doctor and forged ahead.
Over the last 12 months, MVP worked hard to bring high-quality medical care into homes in 15 states. They now offer online pediatric, gynecologic, and primary healthcare services for patients of all ages. Plus, they provide same-day scheduling for online physician appointments, some in-network insurance benefits, and five-star customer service.
As the #1 online healthcare provider, MVP doctors get to know their patients. Quality care is emphasized, and they aim to provide the best patient satisfaction in telemedicine. Here’s what patients are saying about MVP's online doctors:
“I would give My Virtual Physician more stars if I could”
“Dr. Howard has the best personality and is very friendly.”
“The future of medical visits; what better way to social distance.”
“A+ would recommend to everyone.”
Since their launch, MVP has opened new offices and added service lines such as nutrition and diabetic care. The practice has partnered with more online doctors and added office staff. Just this Spring, MVP enhanced their patient portal for self-scheduling, and integrated a program to trend patient reviews.
This one year anniversary milestone is cause for celebration. It is exciting, and this is only the beginning. Despite any challenges that lie ahead for this medical practice, their progress shows that the future is very bright for My Virtual Physician.
Congratulations to Dr. Howard, Dr. Masghati, Dr. Ayyagari, and all of the My Virtual Physician Staff.
