This post was written by one of my favorite clients and truly special person…who deals with chronic pain on a daily basis. Chronic ill health, disability and fatigue: Where did my energy go? Dr. Peter Phillips A few months ago during yet another arthritis flare, I happened across a set of self help articles talking …
When I first made aliyah, ‘back when dinosaurs roamed the earth’, as my kids would say, Bituach Leumi was considered an opaque box of unpleasantness that was out to hide the money you had coming to you. Okay, slight hyperbole, but you get the picture. It was not a well-liked institution. In 2012, the government …
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 …
A deep dive into Bituach Leumi (Israel National Health Insurance) Read More »
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 with your Teen [Mental Health Awareness Series#4] Read More »
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 …
Navigating Mental Health in the Elderly [Mental Health Awareness Series #3] Read More »
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 #20: How do I ask my doctor a follow-up question after the appointment? Read More »
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 #19: Can I establish advanced health directives in Israel? Read More »
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 …
Ask Aviva #16: Why won’t my doctor do an MRI for my back pain? Read More »
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 …
Contraception in Israel Part #4: Other Options You May Not Have Thought About! Read More »
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 …
We’ve helped hundreds of clients choose what was right for them.
Now let us help YOU.
