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Going green a smart real estate strategy that adds value

2018-08-31T14:21:00

(BPT) – Are you thinking of selling your house and want to know some of the best ways to boost your home’s value, demand top dollar and potentially inspire a bidding war? Whether you’re selling in a few months or a few years, there is one strategy that gets noticed in real estate markets across the United States: green home improvements.

Green homes can sell faster and for more money than comparable houses without eco-friendly features. Better yet, green homes are increasingly in demand. More than half of people rank green and energy efficiency as top requirements for their next homes, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

What are some of the most in-demand features that can boost your home’s value now and prepare it for a higher sales price in the future? Here are five improvements to consider to green your home and help it stand out from the competition.

Solar panels: Can you imagine producing enough energy that your local utilities company pays you for the surplus? With solar panels, this is possible. Plus, solar panels are extremely attractive to buyers who like that a system is already in place, and they can simply move in and enjoy the benefits. Plus, there’s a $5,911 resale increase per installed kilowatt, according to the USGBC, which means a 3.1 kilowatt system could improve your home’s resale value by about $18,000.

Smart water-leak detection: Home water leaks waste 1 trillion gallons of water per year, according to the EPA. Fixing detectable leaks is a no-brainer, but what about hidden leaks? Use intelligent-water technology like the Phyn Plus smart water assistant + shutoff, which is installed on the main water line after the meter. This device analyzes your home’s water use 240 times per second to detect tiny changes in water pressure. Not only can you target invisible water leaks and make repairs to reduce your water footprint, but the device also shuts off the water in an emergency, so you (and future homeowners) never have to worry about damage from things like a burst pipe. Learn more at www.phyn.com.

New windows: Heat gain and loss through windows are responsible for 25 to 30 percent of residential heating and cooling energy use, according to the U.S. Energy Department, which recommends looking for the Energy Star label and reviewing ratings from the National Fenestration Rating Council. Homebuyers are sure to like the updated appearance of new windows, plus they’ll appreciate the savings from increased energy efficiency. For a typical home, new Energy Star windows can save $126 to $465 a year when replacing single-pane windows, and $27 to $111 a year when replacing double-pane, clear-glass windows.

Landscaping and treescaping: The right landscaping provides wonderful visual allure to a home, but it can do so much more than that. Strategically planting trees and shrubbery can provide bountiful eco-friendly benefits. During the hot months, shade from trees and other large plants can help keep a home cooler, so your HVAC systems don’t have to work as hard. During cold months, these same plants can serve as windbreaks, cutting those chilly gusts and helping protect your home from heat loss. By adding the right plants to your yard, you’ll add curb appeal and green resale benefits that go beyond beauty.

Smart thermostat: Programmable thermostats are the norm for today’s houses, allowing homeowners to set a schedule and forget it. You can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting, according to the U.S. Energy Department. Savvy homeowners looking to get the most out of green home improvements during resale should consider a smart thermostat. These types of thermostats go beyond simple programming and are able to analyze home usage trends, make energy-efficient setting suggestions, and can be controlled remotely.

Whether you’re moving soon or will some time in the future, green home improvements boost value now. When it comes time to sell, these updates are sure to capture the attention of the modern homebuyer.


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How telemedicine improves outcomes for stroke patients

2018-08-30T14:00:00

(BPT) – Being rushed to the hospital with a stroke is terrifying for patients and their loved ones.

They want and expect the very best care and attention from the hospital staff, so they can be on their way to recovery and head home.

When a family hears a neurologist is available for an immediate evaluation, they are relieved to know they’ll soon have answers. However, they may be surprised when they learn the specialist won’t actually be physically present in the room with the patient, or even in the same hospital building. Instead, the interaction will be through a video screen.

“The heart of their concern is that telemedicine sounds like a low-touch, casual interaction with a patient, and they worry it will be difficult for their loved one to get top-notch care,” says Hammad Shah, CEO of acute telemedicine provider SOC Telemed. “This impression may be colored by prior experience consulting a doctor through a mobile phone app for a routine illness, such as strep or influenza. Such instances of everyday tele-care, while efficient, are only a fraction of what is possible today through in-hospital real-time remote care, or what is better known as acute care telemedicine.”

Shah further explains that teleNeurology, a subset of acute care telemedicine, is a very productive and meaningful way to get stroke patients the care they need, and it often exceeds the expectations of patients and families that encounter it. Using telemedicine, hospitals can provide access to a board-certified, experienced neurologist on the screen in minutes, helping put families at ease during a stressful time.

How does it work? The neurologist interacts with the patient in real time, face to face through a computer screen, usually on a special, movable cart. Neurologists ask questions, ask the patient to perform movements as a part of the evaluation and review any images and insights shared by the hospital medical staff. From there, the onscreen neurologist and onsite medical providers collaborate on the patient’s plan for care.

Why is there a need for telemedicine and why is it helpful to stroke patients? Shah explains the benefits.

It saves valuable minutes

When a patient is experiencing a stroke, every minute matters because of the damage to the brain that occurs. Nearly 800,000 Americans experience a stroke every year, with approximately 133,000 of these cases resulting in death. The faster a patient is seen, the more treatment options are available to potentially save brain function and improve patient outcomes.

In an ideal situation, a stroke patient would see a neurologist within minutes of arriving to the hospital. In reality, those specialists may not be available right away, for multiple reasons. They could be in another part of the hospital treating a patient, they could work in multiple regional hospitals and not be onsite, or they could be off duty at home and need to drive in after hours. All too often there may simply be no neurologist available. In some circumstances, a patient has to be transferred to another facility. That’s especially true for patients at rural hospitals that lack full-time staff neurologists. Transferring patients can substantially delay access to the care those patients need.

However, when a hospital uses a telemedicine solution, patients get a face-to-face real-time video consultation with an experienced, board-certified neurologist in minutes. For example, hospitals that partner with SOC Telemed for teleNeurology experience a median time of 11 minutes between requesting a consultation and having a neurologist on video with the patient. Plus, teleNeurologists see hundreds of patients in a week, across multiple hospitals, which provides a volume of experience neurologists working in one or two hospitals won’t see in a year.

Improved outcomes

One treatment that has been a game-changer for stroke patients is the administration of a tissue plasminogen activator (TPA). TPA breaks up blood clots to the brain, and it’s considered a highly effective treatment to prevent brain injury for stroke patients. Despite that, up to 30 percent of stroke patients do not even receive it, even if they do arrive at the hospital in time and are candidates for the treatment, according to a report from the New York Times. That lack of treatment can lead to paralysis, impaired speech and cognition or even death.

One thing important to understand about TPA is that it must be administered within three to four hours of the onset of stroke. If a patient misses out on the proper evaluation to get that treatment, that window of opportunity is gone. According to the CDC, patients who get to the emergency room within three hours of the onset of symptoms have less disability than those who received delayed care.

That’s where telemedicine can vastly improve outcomes for stroke patients. When patients can get prompt access to a neurologist’s evaluation, they have more treatment options, including not just TPA, but also endovascular surgery to remove the blood clot. More options mean patients have a better chance of recovery from stroke.

Knowing how telemedicine works can help you or your loved one understand how your local hospital is looking out for its patients in the event of stroke. Ask if your local hospital has access to teleNeurology services. For more information about SOC TeleNeurology Solutions, visit soctelemed.com.


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National Medicare Education Week: Get ready for Medicare Annual Enrollment with these online resources

2018-08-31T12:29:00

(BPT) – Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period is almost here — the time (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) when people can make changes to their Medicare coverage for the year ahead.

Thankfully, there are tools and resources to help you navigate the process and select a plan to meet your needs. National Medicare Education Week begins Sept. 15 with one goal: to help empower people to make informed choices about their Medicare coverage. Local education events are planned across the country and online to help you prepare for the fall Annual Enrollment Period. You can check out a list of events in your area at www.nmew.com.

Here’s a roundup of frequently asked questions about Medicare you might expect to hear at a National Medicare Education Week event and online resources that can help you get started in your own decision-making process.

1. How do I know which Medicare coverage is right for me?

Each person needs to make coverage decisions based on his or her health care needs and budget. To do that, you need to understand your options.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is provided by the federal government and includes hospital and medical coverage. But it doesn’t cover everything. You may have out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Coinsurance for most Part B services, for example, is 20 percent of the cost. In addition, Original Medicare does not cover prescription drugs.

If you want additional coverage, there are two ways to get it.

* Add Medicare supplement insurance and/or a standalone Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D) to Original Medicare.

* Choose a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), which combines Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) in one plan. Most plans include prescription drug coverage (Part D), and many offer coverage for things like routine dental and eye care. Medicare Advantage plans also put a cap on your out-of-pocket costs for the year. There’s no cap with Original Medicare.

2. Does Original Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing care?

Original Medicare (Parts A & B) does not cover routine dental, vision or hearing care. Some costs may be covered if you have an eye injury or a certain medical condition, such as diabetes or cataracts.

Some Medicare Advantage plans cover dental and vision care, including routine eye exams, eye glasses or contacts.

Medicare Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance exams if your doctor thinks you may need medical treatment, but neither Part B nor Part A covers routine hearing tests or hearing aids. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer this coverage.

3. How can I get coverage for my medications, since Original Medicare doesn’t provide it?

You have two options for prescription drug coverage: You can add a standalone Part D plan to Original Medicare, or you can join a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage.

Look for plans that cover the drugs you take. Each plan has a formulary that lists which drugs are covered and what the cost is. Most formularies are tiered, dividing drugs into levels of cost. Typically, low-tier drugs will cost less than high-tier drugs.

4. Why are the costs for my prescription drugs going up? Can I switch plans?

Part D prescription drug plans may change copays, premiums, deductibles and other costs from year to year. They may also add or delete specific drugs from their formularies.

If your drug costs are going up, you are free to shop for a different plan during Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can look for plans using the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.

The bottom line

You have choices to make when it comes to Medicare. But you’re not alone. There are many tools and online resources to help you navigate the process and select a plan to fit your needs.

For more information on any of the questions above, explore MedicareMadeClear.com or contact the Medicare helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048.

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies. For Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans: A Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in these plans depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.