Surgery on Friday? No, thanks!

If you have a choice of dates to have elective surgery, go for Monday if possible. And definitely, don’t have surgery on Friday or on a Thursday before a long holiday weekend. What’s the difference?

 

Researchers studied over 450,000 common surgeries performed in Toronto between 2007-2019. They looked at 30-day, 90-day, and one-year outcomes for patients. They checked for complications during the hospital stay, readmission to the hospital, and death within those time periods.

 

People whose surgery was on a pre-weekend day were 5% more likely to have a negative outcome up to a year later than were people whose surgery was on a post-weekend day (Monday, or Tuesday after a long weekend). The surgeries in which this effect was most noticeable were for heart and vascular problems. Plastic surgery and obstetrics showed very little calendar-related effects.

 

This is not just a Canadian phenomenon. Similar research has been done in the UK, in the US, and in the Netherlands. It has been labeled the “Friday effect.”

 

Several theories exist to explain this effect. It is possible that hospital staff on duty over weekends are less experienced or more overworked, which might lead to delayed or less efficient care. Specialist care may be less available on weekends. Some researchers concluded that “disparities in resources, expertise, and healthcare providers working during weekends may explain the observed differences in weekend mortality.”

 

However, sometimes there does not seem to be a Friday effect. A study of elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery found that “the day of elective ACDF surgery does not affect mortality, readmissions, or reoperation rates.” The authors note that it is likely that there may be more negative outcomes for patients with early-week surgeries because surgeons prefer to schedule “more complex cases or higher risk patients” earlier rather than later in the week.

 

Conclusion: It’s always wise to ask lots of questions before elective surgery. Be your own best advocate. And remember that even if there are risks, they seem to be small.

Medical Insurance Terms to Know

The language used in medical bills, health care forms and other paperwork can be very confusing. Here are some plain language explanations of some of them.

Allowed Amount – what the insurance company believes should be the price for the medication or service

Balance Billed – the difference between what the provider believes should be the price for the medication or service and the insurer’s allowed amount – you will have to pay this amount

Coinsurance – after you have paid the deductible, coinsurance is the percentage of the cost of the allowed amount you will have to pay

Copay – a fixed amount you will have to pay for covered prescription medications and medical services, due when you receive the service

Deductible – your insurance won’t pay anything until you have paid this amount total for the year

Evidence of Coverage – an explanation of your insurance plan, including what is covered and how much you pay

Explanation of Benefits - Not a bill! This is a summary of charges, insurance payments, and your payments for a month.

Formulary – lists the medications your insurer will pay for

In-Network Providers – providers or facilities with a contract with your insurer. It usually will cost you less to use an in-network provider than to go to an out-ot-network provider.

Step Edits (Step Therapy) – requirements to be met before your insurer will pay for a medication. You may have to try using less effective medications before they will authorize what your doctor prescribes.

Read all insurance-related text carefully. Look up or ask for an explanation of any term you do not understand. 

Easy Tips to Cool Down a Hot Home

Keep as much heat out as possible.

• Hot air and sunlight coming in through windows heats up the inside. During the day, close the windows and shut the curtains and blinds.
• The exception: If some windows are shaded during the daytime, by trees or shadows from nearby buildings, open them. 
• If you can open two windows during the day, you will get a cross-breeze that will help the room cool down.
• When it’s cooler outside than inside, perhaps at night, open windows to allow cooler air to come inside.

Remember that heated air rises and cooler air sinks.

• You may be more comfortable downstairs than upstairs in hot weather. Basements are naturally cooler than attics.
• Switch the direction of ceiling fan blades when the seasons change. They should be spinning counterclockwise in hot weather. This creates a cooling downdraft. Remember to turn the fan off when nobody is in the room.

Lower the humidity.

• Moisture in the air doesn’t really add to the temperature. However, it does make the air feel hotter. Remove the excess humidity with an energy-efficient portable dehumidifier to make the room feel cooler than it is.

Don’t add more heat.

• Indoor appliances such as the dishwasher, clothes dryer and washing machine, oven and stove add heat to the air. Cook food in the microwave or outdoor grill if possible. 
• Wait until nighttime when it is cooler outside to use other appliances. 

Sorghum is the June Grain of the Month

Although sorghum is the fifth most widely grown cereal crop globally, it is not well known in the US. The Whole Grains Council has declared sorghum to be the grain of the month of June.

In North America, sorghum is mostly grown to make silage for animal feed and used as biomass in the production of ethanol. Many varieties of the tall plant are native to Africa, Asia, and Australia, where it thrives in areas prone to drought. Sorghum stalks are high in sugar, and can be crushed to yield a sweet juice.

Ben Franklin wrote about the use of sorghum as a crop. It was likely brought to this country by enslaved Africans. In addition to food for humans and animals, the fibrous stalks are made into brooms, earning sorghum the nickname “broomcorn.”

With its many varieties and multiple uses, sorghum is an important crop. The US is now the world’s largest producer, although sorghum syrup is no longer a common staple on breakfast tables here.

Sorghum is naturally gluten-free, and has high natural antioxidant levels. It may have several health benefits, including protection against insulin resistance, managing cholesterol, and inhibiting cancerous tumor growth. In addition to being a good source of fiber, sorghum seeds provide manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin B3.

Sorghum grains are easily cooked in water or broth, with a grain to liquid ratio of 1:3. More commonly eaten in the South, sorghum may appear in Cajun or Creole recipes. When cooked, the grains can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, and quickly reheated in the microwave. Sorghum grains can be ground into flour. The seeds can even be popped like popcorn!

Sorghum has been part of human diet for at least 8,000years. Are you ready to try cooking another ancient grain?