by Karen Curtiss | Oct 13, 2026 | Health Care Costs, Medical, Medical Conditions
Please note: Things may change. Verify directly before making an enrollment decision. Medicare Advantage Network Changes Already in Effect: Health System State/Region Medicare Advantage Change, as of 10/6/26 Allina Health MN Out of network with Humana MA since 2025.... by Karen Curtiss | Oct 11, 2026 | Care Partner, Conversations, Medical
Is a loved one always your best healthcare proxy? Jack and Lily were excited about retirement plans to travel the world! But a devastating ALS diagnosis changed everything. New plans included drawing up Jack’s living will with his wishes and directions for medical... by Karen Curtiss | Oct 6, 2026 | Care Partner, Health Care Costs
What patients and caregivers need to know this Medicare Open Enrollment Season The annual Open Enrollment season starts October 15 and runs through December 7th. This is the time of year when people aged 65+ can change their Medicare insurance coverage, including... by Karen Curtiss | Mar 14, 2023 | Patient Safety
What’s all the fuss about patient safety? You may be surprised! To those of us in health care, Patient Safety Awareness Week every March is a big deal. Patient safety informs everything we do! But, it lands with a thud on most everyone else. Why? Studies show... by Karen Curtiss | Feb 28, 2023 | Patient Safety Tips, Preventing Infection
Did you know “pearly whites” can prevent pneumonia? Don’t you LOVE simple solutions for serious problems? Today, I am excited to share this new article with you about how to stop deadly pneumonia – literally, in its tracks!Pneumonia is a big risk... by Karen Curtiss | Feb 21, 2023 | Checklists, Conversations, Medical, Patient Safety, Telehealth
Your doctor’s advice may blur from memory, but there’s a good way to keep it in focus! When we’re under the weather – or have any health concerns – our minds and memories simply don’t operate at 100%. Fortunately, smartphones can help us “fill in... by Karen Curtiss | Feb 9, 2023 | Care Partner, Conversations, Medical, Patient Safety Tips
Is a loved one your best voice when you’ve lost yours? Maybe, maybe not. It’s worth some thought. Jack and Lily were excited about retirement plans to travel the world! But a devastating ALS diagnosis changed everything. New plans included drawing up Jack’s living... by Karen Curtiss | Feb 7, 2023 | Conversations, Patient Safety
For good care, lead good conversations. Here’s how. Last week, I shared a story about my mother’s recent ER experience. You may recall how horrified I was when a nurse mistakenly believed I was refusing a medication for my mother, Margaret. Fortunately, a good... by Karen Curtiss | Jan 31, 2023 | Conversations, Patient Safety
Role Reversal in Care: Good Intentions Get Scary! Last Friday, I spent the day with my mother in an Emergency Room and was reminded that, sometimes, best intentions can “go sideways”, even in medicine. Here’s what happened. Mom’s nurse went over three medicines an ER... by Karen Curtiss | Jan 24, 2023 | Hospital Safety, Medical, Patient Safety Tips
Thanks to Leah Binder, get the answer here! And, thanks to Leah and the Leapfrog Group, we have many more “A” hospitals in the US than we did ten years ago. Since then, they’ve collected data to grade hospitals on their quality of patient care –...
