Part I: How to feel empowered within a rigid bureaucratic system True story. A new immigrant called up her kupat cholim (HMO) and said she wanted to know if she could see a different doctor in the same quarter, because she hadn’t liked the manner of this particular doctor. The clerk on the other end […]
Navigating Mental Health with your Teen [Mental Health Awareness Series#4]
I have teenagers. I get it. No one tells them, anything, ever, because they know it, all. Cue eye roll, sigh, sad shake of the head; isn’t mom dumb? But the funny thing is that we are still their case managers, their guides, the prime decision maker when it comes to their health, and mental […]
Navigating Mental Health in the Elderly [Mental Health Awareness Series #3]
Apparently, doctoring octogenarians is pretty unpopular in the medical community. That means that there are very few medical experts in the field who specialize in the unique healthcare of those over 70. How do I know this? In addition to spending my free time reading medical literature, I happen to be coordinating a study for […]
Ask Aviva #20: How do I ask my doctor a follow-up question after the appointment?
Dear Aviva, I have a follow-up question for my family doctor after our appointment last week. Can I call, or write him somehow? Is this a thing in Israel or you need to make another appointment and go in person? Sincerely, On Hold in Haifa Dear on Hold, Aah, the quandary of the follow-up. […]
Ask Aviva #19: Can I establish advanced health directives in Israel?
Dear Aviva I receive your newsletter and have a question. How does one in Israel establish advanced health directives in the case of cognitive impairment, DNR orders and so on? I am very ill with a number of significant health problems but my situation is quite stable. My wife’s health is very good. We have […]
Ask Aviva #16: Why won’t my doctor do an MRI for my back pain?
Dear Aviva, I am 53 years old, have played a lot of sports and have had back pain, on and off, for about 10 years. Unfortunately, it’s gotten a lot worse recently. I would like an MRI to find out what is going on. However, my family doctor says that because I don’t have any […]
Contraception in Israel Part #4: Other Options You May Not Have Thought About!
Many women stop using the pill (the COC or combined oral contraceptive – estrogen and progesterone) because of negative side effects. Migraines, family history of heart disease, high blood pressure are all medical risk factors that prevent women from using the regular pill. Decreased libido is also a big non-medical side effect, although one less […]
The 5% Club
The 95/5 rule of Diagnoses A number of years ago, I sat in a doctor’s office with one of my children. He was giving me a bemused look, as he perused the myriad of paperwork we had collected on her over the past months. No one knew exactly how to proceed. She wasn’t growing; she […]
Caught in the Emergency Room Waiting Room? Read this!
She did everything right. She had the surgery when the doctor told her to, she came to all the follow-up appointments, and wore all the correct bandages. She took all her medicine and complied with all the doctors’ instructions. She saw several types of specialists and followed all their advice. So how is it, that […]
How I Lost My Mother
My mother managed to disappear in the five seconds it took for my father to go into the closet to get the dog food. She’d been resting, and he thought she was asleep. Just like in those cartoons when one character sneaks out behind the back of the other, she was gone. Out the door […]
