LOOKING FOR A NEW HOBBY? Lyndon Thomas Insurance
Try One of These Unique Options!
STARTING A BOOK CLUB Book clubs are a great way to hold yourself accountable for finishing a book from cover to cover and a fun way to get together with friends or to meet new people with similar interests. RESTORING FURNITURE You’ve likely noticed that people will throw away just about everything — even some great pieces of furniture that, with a little TLC, have great potential! Refinishing and reupholstering old furniture pieces with new paint or fabric is fun and can even make you some extra money! Whatever you’re passionate about, there’s a hobby out there for you. Even if you’re unsure what you might like, you have the freedom to try out all kinds of different activities!
Once the kids have moved out, your newly empty nest provides the best opportunity to rekindle old flames with some of your favorite hobbies or a chance to explore some new ones! Even if you still haven’t reached retirement, having a hobby or two that you are passionate about is essential for your well-being. Here are some exciting hobbies that aren’t your traditional art class or tennis match. UPCYCLING YOUR BELONGINGS Many of us have items around the house we no
jar in the back of your pantry, you can paint and decorate it to repurpose it as a vase. DOING TAI CHI Tai chi, a form of martial arts, combines slow and gentle postures and movements, controlled breathing, and a meditative mindset to deliver a calming practice. It’s a great way to get busy and improve your physical and mental health. The best part is that it doesn’t require any equipment — only your body! PRACTICING ARCHERY Archery is fun and interactive and builds your hand-eye coordination. You can practice archery alone, with friends, or with your spouse or partner. All it requires is a bow, some arrows, and your focus.
longer use. In fact, they’re likely tucked away somewhere collecting dust. By
upcycling them, you can turn them into new treasures. For example, if you have an old glass
Each of us has our own perspective on our medical experiences and the changes in our medical system. For me, during the past 20 years or so in the health insurance business, I have observed the medical system from a step removed, through feedback received from clients and others. Now in the last three years, I’ve had more personal experience with a hospitalization, a right knee replacement a year ago (with the left coming up in two weeks), along with Kathy’s surgeries. A few changes I’ve observed. More physicians than ever are employees. The younger generation entering the medical profession is less likely to want to own and run a business in addition to being a doctor. Many prefer to go home after their workday rather than pay utility bills and employee workers’ comp insurance. Sadly, the era of the independent practitioner is fading. An employee has a different view of things than a business owner. Many physicians are themselves struggling with change. The 2009 Affordable Care Act accelerated the transition to electronic medical records (EMR). The medical industry was migrating to EMR, and Obamacare jammed the fast-forward button. Older physicians who did not grow up interacting with a screen had to midcareer learn an entirely new life skill — run one’s entire patient interaction through a screen. Pen and paper are a thing of the past. Clients have complained, “My doctor never looked at me the entire time he was in the room. He was only looking at that darn computer screen.” Here’s how it goes: Doctor enters the answer to a health question into the screen, up comes a pop-up screen that has to be satisfied before proceeding. Depending on your answer to the question, another pop-up screen may demand an answer before going on. Younger doctors for whom interacting with a screen is second nature probably handle this better. Some medical practices hire more staff (think salary, benefits, health insurance, workers’ comp) to listen in and do the data entry. CHANGE IS CERTAIN, ESPECIALLY IN OUR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE
Industry literature states that the U.S. has been experiencing a primary care physician deficit for the past 25 years. Here in Ojai, four PCPs have retired in the last three years, with only two replacements. Our medical provider system has not yet recovered from COVID-19. Work from home, social distancing, and safety protocols continue to slow scheduling timelines, stretching out the calendar. Don’t get me started! These are just a few factors that add pressure and tension to our lives and our providers’ lives. What can we do? Be proactive in your own health care. 1. Organize your own medical records and history. Yes, one would think that EMR is keeping track of all our medical details. Unfortunately, better results require the patient to track and organize their own records. Don’t wait for the office to call you to confirm your appointment. You confirm your appointment. You are responsible for your own health care. 2. Make a list of questions and details you want to address during the precious 8–10 minutes of physician face-to-face in your next appointment. Most physicians appreciate efficient use of time. 3. Members of Medicare Advantage plans requiring pre- authorization for all services may call their medical group customer service to verify approvals, which may reduce the time for appointment scheduling. And above all, even if you are frustrated out of your gourd, “proactive” does not mean being belligerent and angry with medical staff. Say “thank you” to the staff at every opportunity (see cover article). So much more can be said on this topic. Let us know what you think.
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