Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Healthcare Education! How much do you know about our healthcare system? I can bet that you have been confused many times, even about your own insurance. What does it pay for? What is not covered? What is standard of care and medical necessity? Why can't I have two surgical removals at the same time? Wound care? Medicare or Medicare substitute? And more... Most of us feel really lost in terminology, processes, procedures and have a hard time explaining the details. There are no classes or manuals on how to use our system. By the way, many things about it keep changing year by year. So, what is the best way to learn, although it is not optimal compared to what we would like to see? We came up with our own solution as a group of medical professionals who see hundreds of patients every year. Number 1 is to educate each and every patient individually. This is why we train our new clinical staff for weeks if not months. We want to make sure that they know how to educate our patients. When you leave our clinic, you not only have a treatment plan or have had surgery, but you also understand what will happen next, with your medical problem, your wound, or your insurance claim. And if we missed something, you should ask. Number 2 is to educate the young generation of future healthcare professionals. This is why we work very closely with medical schools, colleges for physician assistants and nursing practitioners, and even high schools. District 214 locally and all the other schools of higher education in medical science found a partner in our clinic by directing their students to complete internships and rotations with us. We have been working with them for many years, but recently, it seems like the interest in coming to work with us has increased. We just found out that students love completing their credited internships here because they learn more than anywhere else. That sounds really encouraging to us and we are very proud to be recognized like that. High school students are sponsored by their teachers of advanced programs preparing them to study any medical field in the future. They complete the theory in the classroom and rotate with our providers, doing regular work with our medical assistants. If you are a patient, you probably have seen our students in the exam room or on the floor. Our providers, including myself, visit schools as well. We give short lectures and answer questions of those young people who might be your future doctors. We give ourselves an opportunity to influence what kind of medical professionals they will become. Number 3 is to educate our community. We write this column to be present in your home weekly. We talk in it about diseases, research, insurance, and many other topics, some only slightly related to the medical field, but still very valid in our challenging world. And we meet our community in person by sponsoring pro bono wellness fairs and screenings. You then have an opportunity to ask questions and have a discussion that may not occur in the medical office you attend. Educated customers make better decisions in life. In healthcare, it is crucial for all of you to be an educated customer and patient. The decisions in healthcare are about your own health and life. Please, meet us in any form and shape to learn as much as you need. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Healthcare Education ! How much do you know about our healthcare system ? I can bet that you have been confused many times , even about your own insurance . What does it pay for ? What is not covered ? What is standard of care and medical necessity ? Why can't I have two surgical removals at the same time ? Wound care ? Medicare or Medicare substitute ? And more ... Most of us feel really lost in terminology , processes , procedures and have a hard time explaining the details . There are no classes or manuals on how to use our system . By the way , many things about it keep changing year by year . So , what is the best way to learn , although it is not optimal compared to what we would like to see ? We came up with our own solution as a group of medical professionals who see hundreds of patients every year . Number 1 is to educate each and every patient individually . This is why we train our new clinical staff for weeks if not months . We want to make sure that they know how to educate our patients . When you leave our clinic , you not only have a treatment plan or have had surgery , but you also understand what will happen next , with your medical problem , your wound , or your insurance claim . And if we missed something , you should ask . Number 2 is to educate the young generation of future healthcare professionals . This is why we work very closely with medical schools , colleges for physician assistants and nursing practitioners , and even high schools . District 214 locally and all the other schools of higher education in medical science found a partner in our clinic by directing their students to complete internships and rotations with us . We have been working with them for many years , but recently , it seems like the interest in coming to work with us has increased . We just found out that students love completing their credited internships here because they learn more than anywhere else . That sounds really encouraging to us and we are very proud to be recognized like that . High school students are sponsored by their teachers of advanced programs preparing them to study any medical field in the future . They complete the theory in the classroom and rotate with our providers , doing regular work with our medical assistants . If you are a patient , you probably have seen our students in the exam room or on the floor . Our providers , including myself , visit schools as well . We give short lectures and answer questions of those young people who might be your future doctors . We give ourselves an opportunity to influence what kind of medical professionals they will become . Number 3 is to educate our community . We write this column to be present in your home weekly . We talk in it about diseases , research , insurance , and many other topics , some only slightly related to the medical field , but still very valid in our challenging world . And we meet our community in person by sponsoring pro bono wellness fairs and screenings . You then have an opportunity to ask questions and have a discussion that may not occur in the medical office you attend . Educated customers make better decisions in life . In healthcare , it is crucial for all of you to be an educated customer and patient . The decisions in healthcare are about your own health and life . Please , meet us in any form and shape to learn as much as you need . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net