From earliest times people have tried to keep their teeth clean. Why they felt this was important may not be clear, since they lacked the knowledge we have today about dental health and its potential to affect the general health and well-being of a person. In any case, we know that they chewed twigs until they were soft enough to function as little brushes that they could then rub against their teeth. Our ancestors also used chew sticks, feathers, porcupine quills, and animal bones. We’ve come a long way since those early days, but, unfortunately, poor dental care still results in one third of all tooth loss in America. Regardless of what part of the country you call home, Detroit, Denver, or Dallas, plaque and tartar are at work destroying teeth and gums at an alarming rate.

Cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease all have their origin in poor dental health care. Your dentist wants to see you at least twice a year for a good cleaning. This will involve scaling your teeth, debridement if tartar has built up, polishing them for a nice look and feel, and a fluoride treatment to prevent the beginning and growth of cavities. In addition to his good care there are several things you can do at home to keep your mouth healthy and clean.

We all know that we should brush our teeth at least twice a day. A third time after lunch is also permissible, but no more. We have also been told we need to floss to get plaque and food particles from between the teeth. More recently, dentists are suggesting that for good dental health, we should try interdental brushing instead of flossing. These little brushes are not as hard on the gums and move easily between the teeth. You should use them before you do your actual tooth brushing so that any debris will be moved totally away from your teeth. Some dentists also recommend gently massaging your gums with the bristles of your very soft toothbrush.

Oral irrigation continues to be a great supplement to good dental health. Shooting a stream of water into the mouth will drive it deeper into the gum line than flossing can go. The stream is powerful enough to remove plaque and tartar, and your gums get that massaging that is so good for them. Today there are many excellent dental aides to keeping your teeth and gums in their best possible condition. We no longer need to rely on twigs, and I, for one, am very grateful.

By: Rick Swanson

In Colorado, no matter what type of health insurance plan you have by law you have certain rights. These include coverage for certain mandated benefits, the right to know what your plan covers and what it does not, and the right to appeal all insurance company decisions when it comes to denying your claim. If you are denied, the reasons have to be in writing.

If you have a managed care plan -health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) plan, you are required to go to certain doctors and hospitals, and all requests must be reviewed. You have to be covered for emergency services even if the services fall outside of your health plan. And, if you need specialized services, you have the right to be referred to a specialist.

If you are a small employer, no employee can be denied health benefits because of a medical condition, and your policy cannot be cancelled unless you fail to pay the premiums. Your rates cannot be raised if your medical expenses are high, and you can by coverage through one of Colorado’s health care coverage cooperatives. This allows you to select plans for a variety of insurers. A group health plan might have a 6-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, but pregnancy is not considered pre-existing and must be covered.

If you are not insured at work and can’t get individual health coverage because you’ve been turned, you may be eligible for CoverColorado, a subsidized state program for uninsurable individuals. Because of risk factors, CoverColorado premiums are about 30 percent more.

Colorado has several programs for those who cannot afford private health insurance. They include Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus and Colorado Indigent Care — a state program that provides partial reimbursement to providers for some of the care.

By: Peter Emerson

If you ask the typical person on the street to list the top medical schools chances are they will be able to name at least a couple of them. US News ranks the top ten medical schools each year. The criteria used includes: Peer Assessment Score, Assessment score by residency directors, Average undergrad GPA, Average MCAT score, Acceptance rate, NIH research grants, NIH research grants per faculty member, Faculty/student ratio, Out-of-state tuition and fees, and the total medical school enrollment.

Although the information gathered about those institutions is important, it may not really determine the quality of the doctor that attends that school. Or does it?

First let’s talk about the people that are concerned with these rankings. It stands to reason that medical schools care – particularly medical schools that rely on private donation to fund expansion and education. Obviously the schools with greater notoriety will receive more private funding.

Another likely group is that of medical students. Although their future patients may not be concerned with where the doctors learned their trade, (but rather, only that they know their stuff!), medical students know that when applying for residencies it does make a difference where you’re coming from. If you are coming from a medical school on the Top Ten List you’ll be a residency program favorite.

The next – and last group of people to be discussed (that are concerned with the Top Ten List) is very likely a large group. This group includes the friends and relatives of the students that attend those schools. It seems that we all take pride in the achievements of those we love and care about.

Before actually sharing the list it is important to clarify that it is possible that some excellent medical schools may be missing. Just keep in mind that it’s a matter of ranking and what characteristics are used to make it. It does not mean that if a school is ranked low the doctors coming from there are not excellent and highly qualified.

One more detail: The Top Ten Lists are broken into Medical Schools of Research and Medical Schools of Primary Care. The medical school rankings have always been a point of concern for the schools as well as the students. In reality no single method for determining ranking works perfectly. When the results are determined almost every institution feels it should have been ranked higher. By breaking the schools into two lists (research and primary care) the problem is at least addressed but weaknesses in the method still exist.

Enough said – Now for the List!

Research

1. Harvard University

2. Johns Hopkins University

3. University of Pennsylvania

4. Washington University in St. Louis

5. University of California-San Francisco

6. University of Washington

7. Stanford University

8. Duke University

9. Yale University

10. Baylor College of Medicine (TX)

Primary Care

1. University of Washington

2. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

3. University of Colorado-Denver and Health Sciences Center

4. Oregon Health and Science University

5. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

6. East Carolina University (Brody) (NC)

7. University of Vermont

8. University of California-San Francisco

9. University of Wisconsin-Madison

10. University of Nebraska College of Medicine

By: Terry Edwards

A Denver Lasik eye surgeon is someone who specializes in the practice of Lasik surgery. Lasik is an acronym for an eye surgery that stands for Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis. This is the process of correcting the vision through the use of laser technology. The main target of this process is to correct near sightedness, far sightedness, and astigmatism.

This process is claimed to be very safe and effective and that the results would last for more than ten years. It was first conceptualized in the 1960s and was first accepted in the world of medicine in the 1990s. Today, it is one of the most common types of surgery available.

But, not all ophthalmologists are also Lasik eye surgeon specialists. Also, you need to know that the cost associated with this procedure ranges upwards a few thousand dollars per eye. Lasik may be safe and yet it is scary because the eye is very delicate. A single mistake can bring severe damages to your eyes. It is strongly advised that you check your directory of Lasik eye surgeons before committing yourself to the actual surgical operation.

You can find a wide array of Denver Lasik eye surgeons to choose from by simply going online and doing a search. This will allow you to review the history, education, and philosophy of the practitioner before you make a critical decision. Always remember, do not jump into conclusions just because a website or resume looks good. If you know of people who have relatives who have undergone such type of surgery, it’s always good to ask them and get their opinion as well. The more input the better.

And lastly, a Denver Lasik eye surgeon will not always suggest this type of surgery to every patient. There are many alternatives to eye correction that does not involve laser surgery. So be cautious and be sure to do some background checking before committing to any surgery.

By: Terry Edwards

Are you flying out of Denver airport and wish to avoid the hassle of parking at the airport? There are a number of different options available for places to leave your vehicle:

1) The DIA Value Park is located at 17151 E 32nd Ave. The rate last quoted was for $4.99 for parking outside and $7.99 for parking indoors. It is almost fourteen miles from the Denver Airport but this distance explains why the pricing is low.

2) A second option is WallyPark. This parking center is located at: 24200 East 78th Avenue It is around 5 miles from the airport terminal. To park outside the rates are 9.00 a day and the valet parking service is 10.95 a day.

3) A third choice for parking near Denver International Airport is PCA Airport Parking, located at 19901 E. 56th Avenue, has an outdoor rate of $7.50. This location is about 12 miles from airport so also a bit of a drive.

4) Finally don’t forget you can also park at the airport itself. Long-Term Parking, located at 8500 Pena Boulevard, has an outdoor rate of $9.00, an indoor rate of $18.00, an economy rate of $5.00, and a valet rate of $27.00.

When you make your decision , think out certain factors such as do you want coverage from the elements such as snow or ice? Do you wish to have valet service or are you fine with a shuttle? Do you have extra time in case you decide to use a place fourteen miles away from the terminal? You may also need extra time to wait for the shuttle and for a ride to and from the terminal so keep that in mind as well as you make the decision that will work best for your travels.

Also you can always ask a friend for a ride, take a cab and see if there is public transportation near where you live that goes to the airport. The main thing is to give yourself time in case there is traffic or any delays. When you use a service you need to remember there may be a line or the shuttle to airport can take a few minutes more than you think.

By: Dee Cohen

Organizations, such as the Mayo Clinic and Intermountain Healthcare, provide the best quality health care at the lowest cost. America’s health-care problems could be eased and even solved if high-quality, low cost medical care was universal.

Unfortunately, providing the best health care services is not contagious, like a virus. There is a wide variation in quality and cost, even with examples of providers who work hard at providing the best quality and lowest cost. Culture, economics, and commitment are a few of the reasons for the wide variety in health care.

Six of the best healthcare organizations are researching the best strategies for the most common and costly medical conditions. They are working together to compile data on the best strategies, then will share that information and encourage other providers to adopt the best strategies system.

James Weinstein, director of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice is heading the new project. The project participants are Mayo, Intermountain, Cleveland Clinic, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Geisinger Health System and Denver Health. Weinstein states, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. That’s not very good and we can’t afford to do it any more.”

The six organizations involved in the project serve over 10 million people and are sharing data on the medical conditions they are researching. The data involves clinical protocols which will help in determining the treatment strategies that are the most cost-effective. These organizations will then send their findings to other health care systems throughout the U.S. There are other organizations who are considering joining in the research.

The first of eight medical condition treatments to be studied is total knee replacement surgery. There are approximately 300,000 knee replacements done each year. The cost of this surgery can range from $16,000 to $24,000. There is a wide variety in the rates of the number of people who have the procedure, in complications and readmissions. The data on total knee replacements is expected to be ready in February 2011.

Diabetes, heart failure, asthma, weight loss surgery, labor and delivery, spine surgery and depression are the other seven to be studied after knee replacement.

The cost and results of treatment for the medical conditions is not the only information that will be gathered. The project is also looking at patient preference regarding the different treatment options

The Dartmouth Atlas is a collection of data that has been compiled from Medicare claims which document the variation in cost and delivery of care. This data was collected from every region in the U.S. Regarding the current project data, Weinstein stated, “We’ll collect the data at Dartmouth and we can benchmark it against the Dartmouth Atlas. We’ll look at what the best outcomes are at the lowest cost. We’ll share that data with each other and publish the recommendations for others around the country to consider.”

The new health care law combined with the interest from employers in controlling health costs should increase the interest in and use of the recommendations created by this project. Weinstein says, “The more we make this public and share this, the better off we’ll be as a nation.”

By: Wojciech Ciszewski

Denver is known to be a populous city in Colorado, United States. It is nicknamed the Mile High City. It has an official elevation of one mile above sea level. Its location makes it an exotic tropical island vacation. It offers many places of interest and attractions to see. They have the most luxurious and adventurous cruises. There are also romantic and honeymoon getaways.

Visitors will immensely enjoy the diverse opportunities for exploring the city. You will find great dining options at almost every corner. The best thing the city could probably offer is their affordable accommodations. Denver Hotels are situated in the commercial locale and near the famous attractions. They offer different vacation packages for you to have an affordable vacation. It is a place conducive for many leisurely activities.

One of the best hotels in Denver is the Oxford Hotel Denver. This hotel opened in the year 1891. But the hotel was fully furnished only recently. It is at the historic district of Denver that greatly appeals to all kinds of tourists from business to leisure travelers.

Services are personalized to make sure each client’s demands are fulfilled satisfactorily. This is a five storey hotel equipped with antique furnishings, frescoed walls, marble floors, sterling chandeliers, stained glass and the art of Colorado. The premises are non-smoking.

The Victorian Deluxe Room consists of either king size or queen size bed, cotton linens and pillow top mattress. Each measures 350 sq ft. and with a downtown street view. All rooms have the very modern amenities that one could expect in a luxurious lodging. The room prices range from 189 US dollars to 369 US dollars. All children under the age of 18 are given the privilege of stay free.

Other amenities are a business center, conference and banquet facilities, room service and concierge. Avail of the spa services and health club services to relax and unwind. There is an onsite restaurant also that serves excellent dishes. They are also a pet-friendly hotel.

There are many other hotels in Denver that can offer you great accommodations. Some of them are Comfort Suites Denver Airport and Staybridge Suites Denver International.

The Comfort Suites is near the Denver International Airport. It offers exclusive and irresistible deals to tourists. The suites are equipped with the latest and modern amenities. Their room rates include the deluxe complimentary continental breakfast. The Moonlight Diner is a famous restaurant nearby, located across the street of the hotel. The establishment offers room services.

It offers 24 hours free shuttle service to and from the airport. The shuttle leaves every 45 minutes. You will also find a lot of entertainment venues around the vicinity.

The Staybridge Suites Denver International offers a lot of family-friendly attractions. The rooms each have a kitchenette, complimentary breakfast and daily complimentary newspaper. They are equipped with modern amenities. They have a midweek relaxation at the Sundown Guest Reception. It offers the best stop over for all transactions from your business engagements to other special gatherings.

The Denver Hotels offers cheap rates for their accommodations. Even the five star hotels have their exclusive and cheap packages. There are also discount prices that are offered. You can have a cheap or affordable but cheap getaway only here in Denver. Plan your trip ahead and book your hotels online.

By: David Urmann