Navigating healthcare in Washtenaw County

Health care information is coming from multiple sources and much of it is conflicting.

Do we take vitamins or get our vitamins from a good diet? What is a good diet? Low carbs? Low fat? Grapefruit? Organic? How much exercise is enough? Should it be cardio? Or weights? Yoga or running? There are different types of practitioners? What is the difference between a chiropractor and a doctor? A physical therapist and a physiatrist? A naturopath or a homeopath?

When should we seek help? When do you live with that virus, or when is it time to be seen and be treated? How often should we have a physical? Or what about the confusion over when to be screened for certain conditions?

Even for those of us familiar with the health care system, the navigation is tricky.

Winter is the time that many people see their doctor. Reasons include New Year's resolutions to become healthier, onslaught of various winter viruses - colds, influenza and their stubborn complications; slips on the ice or overuse injuries from snow shoveling and other winter events; and skin ailments such as dry skin and eczema.

Sometimes winter affects our moods, such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or other manifestations of the numbing cold, lack of sun and illness. All of these factors can lead to a need to find a practitioner. How do we decide who to see and where to go?

Finding a doctor is harder for some of us who may be struggling with job loss or have recently lost insurance or are challenged by a confusing with health care benefit issue. Will we be seen if we call?

In Washtenaw County, we have the best information available given the vast resources provided by the University of Michigan Health System and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, not to mention the VA Hospital and a number of local businesses such as Thomson Reuters, Altarum Institute, Health Media as well as the spin off research companies in leading-edge endeavors. Yet somehow, many of us struggle to find a medical home, are confused by the changing insurance landscape and the billing process or wondering how to lead healthy lives without being consumed with finding the best approach.

While we are sorting out our options and grateful for the plentiful resources we have, we would be remiss not to recognize our colleagues in Haiti, trying to help the people there under the most adverse of circumstances. Our hearts and intentions go out to all of those suffering and those trying to alleviate suffering.

None the less, here at home there is still confusion.

Over the next few weeks we will try to help make sense of the issues in health care through this column with a number of commentators and opinions for the readers of AnnArbor.com. Commentaries will range from content related to health care issues and medical conditions to how to access the health care system or how to optimize nutrition and not break the bank.

Raymond Rion,M.D. is the Medical Director of Packard Health. He can be reached at infor@packardhealth.org or for more information visit www.packardhealth.org