Archive for 2008

Relaxation and Meditation

I wrote a post about relaxation/meditation on the corporate website ;-) – www.rouanzoin.com- Relaxation and Meditation and then I started thinking about the kids and how to teach them relaxation skills.

I do consider a child’s ability to self-soothe, relax, and calm their own mind to be a necessity. In a therapy environment- handling a child’s clinical anxiety or trauma response involves a bit more skill than can be learned in a single book or tape. Living a balanced life (homework/play/exercise/friends/family/good nutrition) is also extremely important in how a child handles stress.

That being said, when I am asked to recommend resources for parents, therapists, or teachers- I almost always recommend the series of stories by Maureen Garth(below). They are meant to be relaxing stories read out loud to children by a parent or caregiver, and children like them. I have recommended them for years- even while working in a children’s oncology unit. Some are even published in Spanish. :)

I do not have any current CD’s I recommend for children. I know many families have favorite calming music they use to help soothe their kids at night or on trips etc. If you are looking for a children’s relaxation CD or guided imagery for children, you can search Amazon and preview some of their selections Children’s Meditations. Adults may want to check out Relaxation and Meditation iMix on iTunes
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Below are the books available at Amazon or at your local bookseller.

: Parents, Resources
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Jill Bolte Taylor

Jill Bolte Taylor’s TED Talk. It is definitely worth the 45 minutes to watch. Jill Bolte Taylor is a brain scientist who has a stroke, and describes her journey in this video. It is inspirational and informative. Her book My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey is also valuable (I considered giving a copy to my husband “in case” but gave it to someone else instead).

: Health and Living
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Access Health Benefits in a Managed Care World

If you have been frustrated by the managed care industry, denied claims that should have been paid, refused a referral to a specialist  and wondered what you could do to advocate for yourself:

1.Keep good records. Follow up all phone conversations related to billing/reviews/referrals with a letter- preferably certified. Keep your own copies of all lab work, specialists reports and diagnostic testing. Insurance companies who know you keep a paper trail will treat you fairly, and doctors who know you keep a record of their notes will document accurately. It also gives you a chance to correct any errors. Also, if you have any medical problems, you will have your records if a medical crisis occurs.

2. Keep a copy of your insurance policy- often available online. A copy is also available through your employer if that is who you are insured through. This will have the process by which disputes are handled and referrals are made.

3.  Always keep track of who you talk to, talk to the supervisor when you can, and get their direct line. Be firm but polite.

4.  Be honest about what it is you need, and why it is you need it. While you may be very frustrated by explaining your situation a million times, each person hearing it is hearing it for the first time and they hear frustrated people all day. Tell them you are frustrated, but remain calm.

5. If you have a critical illness- many of the major insurance companies have critical illness programs that are not necessarily advertised – they will find you eventually via the claim trail- that do offer other ways to help you. Also, hospital social workers are a wealth of information in helping find ways to reduce copays for medications if that is an issue.

6.  If you cannot make nice with the insurance company- then ask whoever you are on the phone with how to file a formal complaint with the insurance company. Repeat yourself/ask the supervisor until you are told how to do that.

7. If that does not work, or you have questions at any time about managed care, then call the managed care board

HMO:
http://www.dmhc.ca.gov/dmhc_consumer/pc/pc_default.asp

Medical:
http://www.opa.ca.gov/healthcare/problems/medi-cal-complaints.aspx

Consumer Advocate Medical Care:

Consumer advocates.

: Health and Living
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Treatment Finder

Looking for treatment for substance abuse issues, and eating disorder or a troubled teen? Where is that number or website you wrote down from that talk show??? hmmmm

For substance abuse, try the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator

Have a troubled teen and looking for a residential program or extended wilderness or camp experience? Search by age gender, type of experience at the accreditation agency- National Association of Therapeutic schools and Programs

Looking for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting? Find out how to locate a meeting near you at the Alcoholics Anonymous National Website

Looking for a therapist trained in EMDR? Find an EMDR trained therapist at the EMDRIA website.

: References & Materials, Resources
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Cancer Survivorship

In 1971, there were less than 3 million cancer survivors living in the United States. In 2004, there were almost 11 million. As these numbers increase, and cancer survivors age and experience the late effects of treatments, new health challenges are faced that “everyday” doctors may not be familiar with. Cancer survivors are often in a position to need to advocate for their health needs in a different way than others.

Cancer Survivorship - Childhood Cancer

  • Childhood Survivor Health Clinic Link to childhood survivor health clinics. Survivors of childhood cancer may visit these clinics (no cost) for screenings for late effects. Clinics are listed by state. Adult clinics are also listed at the Livestrong site. In Southern California UCLA has both an adult and childhood cancer survivor clinic.
  • Children’s Oncology Group -Guidelines for the care of survivor’s of childhood cancer, download-able for primary care physicians if survivors do not live near a survivorship clinic. Guidelines per type of cancer treatment, late effects possible, symptoms, treatment, and screening necessary. It was in the 70′s and early 80′s that cancer began to be treatable, and children who had these treatments are now getting older and having the late effects. It is this model that the adult guidelines will be based on.
  • Cancer Survivorship This is the CDC page on cancer survivorship, on the main page there is also a link to the Spanish translation of the site. Additionally there are resources for primary care physicians who will be dealing with the 10 million cancer survivors and the late effects they face.
  • NCI – also has a summary of this article and a list of articles and studies that have been published from this long term/longitudinal study.
  • Cancer Survivors Project – The Cancer Survivors Project is an organized, international community of long-term cancer survivors and their friends working together to improve the lives of children and adults after cancer. This is a private organization, founded by cancer survivors experiencing the late effects of treatment even before the research was published. There are many resources to research articles, books, and medical-care guidelines provided here.

Research Articles

Chronic Health Conditions in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer Kevin C. Oeffinger, M.D., Ann C. Mertens, Ph.D., Charles A. Sklar, M.D., Toana Kawashima, M.S., Melissa M. Hudson, M.D., Anna T. Meadows, M.D., Debra L. Friedman, M.D., Neyssa Marina, M.D., Wendy Hobbie, C.P.N.P., Nina S. Kadan-Lottick, M.D., Cindy L. Schwartz, M.D., Wendy Leisenring, Sc.D., Leslie L. Robison, Ph.D., for the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. This is the link to the full text article that the New England Journal of Medicine published in 10/2006 on the Late Effects of Childhood Cancer. (link is to full article)
The Two-Edged Sword of Curing Childhood Cancer , Philip M. Rosoff, MD. New England Journal of Medicine, October, 2006. (link is to full article)

St Jude Long Term Follow Up Study – The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). St. Jude coordinates this on-going long term study. Not an article exactly, but the study on which many of the research is built.

: Cancer
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