Monday, November 28, 2011

Online Appointment Scheduling!

Just a quick note to let you know that online appointment scheduling is now available. If you're interested in registering for this new feature, you'll need to request an access code to get started. Email bibi@hahnandnelson.com. I'll send you an access code and a guide to Patient Ally.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Try a Little Tenderness!

As you go about your Thanksgiving holiday, I'm sure you're feeling grateful thoughts for everything important to you. It's good to be grateful! Gratitude is a light that can shine through the days you're feeling blue, the days you're feeling forsaken, or those times you feel you don't have enough of whatever. However, gratitude goes even further if you express it, especially if your gratitude target is a person. You may be glad that you have a wonderful teacher, or an efficient accountant, or a thoughtful assistant. But maybe, as time goes by, you take that person for granted; you may even allow negative thoughts to cloud over what a gift that person really is. Perhaps they came in late one day, or forgot an appointment, or acted grouchy one morning; that sort of thing seems to cling to our consciousness more so than the good things. It's probably out of some kind of primal defense mechanism -- our brain wants to protect us against bad things and feelings, so recalling those things first will allow us to react quickly to a possible repeat behavior. Now is a great time to recall, instead, all the good things, even the mundanely good things, people do for you every day. Maybe they simply come to work every day without fail, or maybe the teacher drew a smiley face on your child's homework. Give gratitude and you will surely get it back doubled. Tell your assistant that she's doing a great job -- pick something specific so she knows you're paying attention...Give your office cleaning person an unexpected raise....ask your postal worker what she's doing for the holidays. And smile when you do....for all you know it may be the only smile someone sees all day.
Happy THANKSGIVING!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Making Time for Patients

We've come so far!
Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine is committed to spending quality time with patients. We're always looking for ways to cut down on the time that we must spend other than seeing patients in the office: billing, filling prescriptions, answering the phone, getting referrals, stocking our supply room.  Instead of simply throwing money at a problem, or hiring more people, we like to try to find creative, innovative solutions. Many times, technology is the answer: for example, we recently implemented electronic fax retrieval which saves time and paper. Other times, a low tech solutions such as altering a schedule, may work just as well to solve a problem. Some of these improvements may take a little getting used to, both for our patients, and for us.

It seems that our phone is always ringing! Most calls are for one of several common issues. One of those is patients needing refills. We recently asked Rick, our Teleplus representative, to add an option to our phone line to allow you to leave your refill information as a message.
New Refill Line!
Refills should ideally be handled through your pharmacy. You should be able to call your pharmacy for any refills you have available; if there are none, the pharmacy should call us directly to make arrangements. However, if this is not possible (in the case of prescriptions that must be on paper), when you call us, just press "1" when prompted and you'll be greeted with the questions you'll need to answer in order for us to refill your prescription. Please remember, it usually takes at least one business day for prescriptions to be taken care of from the time we receive your message until the pharmacy completes the order.

The other common reason patients call us is to get an appointment. We know that a lot of our patients would love to book appointments online, and we're getting ready to make that happen.

 Online Appointment Scheduling Coming Soon!
We already enjoy Oxbow, our state-of-the-art EMR software (Electronic Medical Record) and the advantages it gives us over old-fashioned paper charts. We use PracticeMate software to schedule patients quickly and easily and file our insurance claims electronically. Now we're getting ready to extend the ability to schedule appointments to our patients with the online PatientAlly service. PatientAlly allows enrolled patients to register their information, and then schedule an appointment. Patients can also send their provider messages. We're looking for some patients to "beta-test" this new service, so if you're interested, please email us at bibi@hahnandnelson.com to setup a training session.

Walk Across Maryland Redux


We love it when people copy  us! What's that saying.... "Imitation is the highest form of flattery..."? Right. Two years ago we got a phone call from a group that makes a hobby of doing "Walks" all around the region. They had heard about our Walk Across Maryland, but were unable to attend on the weekend we traditionally have the Walk. They wanted to know the route, and whether they could perhaps have a few t-shirts. We usually have a surplus of shirts, so we said "sure!". Again this year they had the same request. As they walked past our office, which is on the route Across Maryland, they noticed that both Dr. Hahn and Dr. Nelson were in the office despite it being Saturday, so they stopped in to say hello. Enjoy their pictures, and if you're one of the Walkers, thanks, and enjoy!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

An Apple a Day...!

We can't promise you that eating an apple a day will keep your visits with us to a minimum but you won't be disappointed when you stock up on these lovely, go-to fruits. From the time the apple orchards grace us with acres of blossom clouds to the time we find them at the market, apples make me happy. Here in Berkeley Springs we have our Apple Butter Festival, where we celebrate the velvety outcome of some of our apples. And I love going to the Farmers Market this time of year, and seeing the apples piled sky high in their bins. The satisfying crunch when one bites into an apple, the smell of applesauce as it cooks down on the stove, my mother's apple pie baking in the oven.... ah!
Of course you can find apples at the grocery store. But when I was at the Farmers Market this weekend, I was reminded that there are apples, and then there are apples! Glascock's at our Market has Staymen apples right now, and these are terrific for cooking. While I'm thinking of my mother's pies, I'm reminded that she always uses this snappy variety anytime she makes a pie, or oh my, her dumplings. I love the Ginger Golds for eating. So if you're one of those who thinks apples are rather pedestrian, try reaching for a variety you haven't tried next time.
So let's say you've bought a bushel or so of apples. Now what? Ok, they are great for packing in lunches because they don't take up much room and they're easy to eat. But let's move on. Apples are so versatile.  I'll give you a recipe for every course!
  • Curried Apple and Squash Soup I haven't made this particular recipe yet, but I want to try it.
  • Apple and Endive Salad I make this. It's a refreshing change from the standard greens/red peppers/cucumber salad that I usually make! Apples are good thrown into almost any green salad, or try shredding them into your coleslaw.
  • Apple Stuffed Pork Chops I am the only fan of pork in my house, so I don't ever get to cook it. But I order it when I go out, and this sounds like something I would definitely order in a restaurant. Go for it!
  • Apples Bean Bake reminds me of something I used to make when I was a vegetarian. The apples rather mimic the texture and taste of pork. Try it even if you're a meat eater. It sounds good.
  • My family recently discovered that we love brussels sprouts. Here's a recipe I'm going to try soon: Warm Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Red Onion.
  • Apple Beer Bread benefits from a double shot of apples: once with the Granny Smith apples, and again with a shot of hard cider.
  • And how about some lovely sauteed apples? I like to melt butter in my cast iron skillet, and then caramalize some brown sugar and cinnamon. Then I lay down the apple slices, and cook them until they're nice and soft, turning them once. These are great for breakfast, or as a side to chicken.
  • Now, what about dessert? Well, you could take the healthy route, and offer your dinner companions a nice platter of assorted apple slices and a variety of cheeses. Cheddar goes particularly well with apples. Port wine is so lovely with this if you like wine.
Of course, there are so many decadent things you can do with apples I don't know where to start. There are those apple dumplings that my mom makes, and her apple pie is beyond comparison. She makes these the old fashioned way, with Crisco shortening.  And those sauteed apples are wonderful with vanilla ice cream. So I'll leave the dessert up to your imagination!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Bras for the Cause

This month, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Rankin Fitness Center is collecting your gently used bras! For every bra collected, Shockley Honda will donate $1 to the FMH Regional Cancer Therapy Center Breast Cancer Unit. We at Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine will be more than happy to collect your bras here and deliver them to Rankins. Last year, $10,000 was raised with bra donations. So go home, look in your closets and drawers and bring them in! Please bring them in by October 23rd. Thank you!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Quotes about Walking

The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk.  ~Jacqueline Schiff

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.  ~Henry David Thoreau

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty.  She's ninety-three today and we don't know where the hell she is.  ~Ellen DeGeneres

Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.  ~Henry David Thoreau

I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.  ~G.M. Trevelyan
Make your feet your friend.  ~J.M. Barrie
Thanks to the Quote Garden!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Walk Across Maryland!

In case you haven't heard, Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine's now famous Walk Across Maryland will be held this Saturday. So far the weather looks perfect, which is good news considering we could use a rest from all this rain. But we won't be resting until we've crossed the state of Maryland! Granted, we will be walking across the skinniest part of our beautiful state, but hey, it's all for fun. We'll have our new bright yellow Walk Across Maryland t-shirts available free for the first 200 walkers who show up. As in years past, we'll meet beginning at 8:30 at the Assembly of God parking lot (just keep driving up Pennsylvania Ave past Pittman's Grocery), and take a quick walk up to the Pennsylvania line. You can stop at our office about halfway and greet the staff from Hospice of Washington County, who will be accepting donations. From there, we'll walk all the way down Pennsylvania Avenue to the great Potomac River where we'll dip our toes. We'll have a shuttle available to drive folks back to their cars if you like. Once again Mike Cligerman will entertain us with his squeezebox, our loyal Hancock cheerleaders will cheer us on, and the Boomtown Hoop will join us too! I heard that some of those wild Zumba ladies might come along too, so watch out! All the office at 301-678-7007 or email bibi@hahnandnelson.com if you have any questions. See you there!

Monday, September 5, 2011

KISS! (Keep It Simple, Stupid)

We often wonder why health care in the United States is so much more expensive than in other countries.  A large part of the answer is that administrative costs in the US system are far higher than in other countries.

A survey of physicians and their staff found that the administrative costs of and time spent interacting with multiple payers in the United States far exceeded time spent and costs in Canada with its single-payer system.

Specifically, U.S. physicians typically spent $82,975 a year administering claims to insurers. In Canada, where health providers only have to deal with one payer - the government - they spent $22,205.

One reason I can see for this discrepancy is that there is very little standardization among our payers. Sure, they all have to use the same codes for procedures (CPTs) and diagnoses (ICD), but from there, the similarity in how a claim is handled disappears. Each insurer has different rules about what diagnosis can be linked to what procedure, what fields on a claim form must be completed or left blank; even the Explanation of Benefits are all different so it's hard to zip through them when processing payments. Each provider is paid differently, according to whatever fee schedule they have negotiated with the insurer. I get bulletins from all our insurers periodically (we accept almost every insurance out there) with "edits" to how claims should be submitted. Do I have time to read all of them? Never. There is a whole industry out there for medical coders to learn the ins and outs of how to successfully code a claim because of all the mystery and confusion.

Another reason is that the rules and regulations governing health care billing and payment are extremely complex and cumbersome.  For any office visit, hospital charge, or other simple service, there are multiple sets of codes, complicated documentation rules, and multiple decision points.  Furthermore, many bills are divided into an upfront co-pay, an amount that the insurer pays, and then a third amount, to cover the difference between the allowable charge, and the amount that has been paid between the co-pay and the insurance payment.  Sound complicated?  It is, and this complexity is the cornerstone of a huge bureaucracy necessary to administer its ins and outs.  It is also the foundation of a great deal of health care fraud, which can hide for years behind the tangle of complicated rules.

Even within a payer, things get tricky. I'm sure you're all tired of hearing me wail about Carefirst of Maryland, but it really is the bane of my existence. Almost all of our Blue Cross/Blue Shield claims must go through Carefirst of Maryland.  The rules are not always the same for all of those BC/BS claims, so there are problems. However, I can't call a patient's "Home plan" to get answers: I must call Carefirst of Maryland, who then "wires" the home plan for a resolution -- that can take literally months.

The time I spend figuring out why a claim isn't paid very often cancels out the amount we end up getting.  That $82,975 figure is very easy for me to believe; actually, I'm surprised it's not higher.

And those who shiver when they think about the government telling doctors how to do their jobs? Guess what. Private insurers tell providers how to do their jobs every day. Would you rather a profiteer be deciding on your health, or the government?

Are you a citizen who thinks that health care costs are too high in the United States? This is one of the reasons, my friend. If your doctor has to pay $82,000 a year to deal with insurance companies, who do you think the cost is getting passed on to?

It is obvious to us that a simplified billing system, with standardization across the board and streamlined billing and payment rules and regulations would be the key to better and less expensive health care.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

September must be his month.

Jim McCoy and Matt Hahn
What other doctor do you know that not only is recognized by his peers (2005 - Maryland Family Physician of the Year, 2006- finalist for American Family Physician of the Year), loved by his patients, and also gets inducted to TWO Hall of Fames in one month (and have both of them announced on the same page of the Morgan Messenger).

Dr. Matthew Hahn will be inducted into the Troubadour's West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame this Sunday afternoon, during the Troubadour's famous Patsy Cline celebration. Come on out and enjoy the day and cheer for Dr Hahn! The afternoon is free, full of great LIVE music, and food. Bring a covered dish, the Troubadour supplies the meat. If you weren't aware, Dr. Hahn recorded a CD of Jim McCoy's music in 2007, "The Real McCoy." You may have seen him around town, performing this beautiful, old-style country music wearing Jim McCoy's original red sequinned suit.

Jeanne Mozier (the Voice of the Festival) and Matt Hahn
Then on Wednesday, September 21st, he will receive the honor of becoming an Apple Butter Festival Hall of Fame inductee for his work as MC of the Hog Calling Contest. If you haven't been to the Hog Calling contest, held the Sunday of the Apple Butter Festival, you've been missing out. People come from all around with their lively versions of hog-calls, co MC-ed by Dr Hahn and Jeanne Mozier.

Congratulations, Matt!

Friday, August 26, 2011

The power of art...


How do you feel when you look at a beautiful picture? Did you know that the pleasure you feel is actually very real? A study shows that looking at beautiful works of art effects the brain exactly the same way as falling in love does! And we all know how good that feels. In fact, looking at artwork can cause the blood flow in the brain to increase by as much as 10 percent.
We didn't know about this when we started collecting artwork for our office. We just knew that we have a lot of local talent, and so much inspiration from the beauty we have all around us. Why buy an anonymous, mass produced print from an equally anonymous mall store when we are so lucky?
One of our friends, Tom Darden, served as photographer in the Maryland State House under six governors. He very graciously framed and mounted in our office some of his beautiful photography that depicts our extraordinary natural surroundings here in Western Maryland. Be sure to check them out next time you're in the office if you haven't enjoyed them already. You can also view his art work on his website.

This weekend, we were at Art in the Park in Berkeley Springs where we live, and came upon the Artists of Merrywoods. Their photography captivated us. We loved the way the photographs are printed on canvas, and then, rather than being framed, were stretched over a beveled surface, giving it an "infinity" feel. The photographs are of all our favorite places: Cacapon State Park, the Cacapon River, and even Dolly Sods. The light in all of them is magnificent. We bought a piece, and then asked them if they'd like to hang some of their pieces in the office. So now our office doubles as a gallery! Come by and see it. All of them are for sale if you fall in love with them as we did.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Understanding your Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

Patients sometimes receive a bill from us and don't understand why they're getting one at all, or have questions about how their insurance paid a claim. (See also: When Claims Don't Get Paid). They may not realize they have a deductible to satisfy before their claims are paid in full, or that they have a co-pay. One question I usually ask them is whether they've reviewed the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) that they receive from their insurer. When a claim is considered by your insurance company, an EOB is sent to the patient to show how a claim is paid (or not paid), and we get a copy at the office along with a check (if there is one). Patients often disregard these, especially when they see "NOT A BILL" across the top of it! However, you should always pay close attention to these. Everybody makes mistakes, from the way the claim was billed at our office, to the way it was paid by the insurance. We are always happy to help patients review these, realizing they can be confusing.

The EOB usually consists of several columns:
Patient Name
Date of Service
Procedure: This could just be a code representing an office visit or procedure, sometimes accompanied by a brief description
Charges: This would be the actual charge for the procedure(s) from our office
Allowed Amount: This is the amount the insurance company has contracted to pay us for the specified procedure(s)
Co-pay/Deductible: Sometimes also called the Patient Responsibility, representing what the patient owes after the insurance has paid and discounted the bill
Contractual Adjustment: Not always included, but represents the amount the doctor's office has agreed to discount through the contract with the insurance
Amount Paid: Total amount paid to the doctor
Sometimes there are codes appended to any of these columns; explanations of what the codes are for are usually at the bottom of the EOB.

The Patient Responsibility is the only amount you should have to pay. We are not allowed to bill you more than the insurance has contracted for our services.

If you ever have any questions about your bill, or your EOB please call us! We'll be happy to help.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Walking in Sunshine with Tori

The music world, especially our local music scene, will become a bit less bright soon. Recently our friend Tori Anderson decided to retire from singing after 17 years with  Possum Holler, a local treasure, due to her health.
Although she is saying goodbye to her musical career, she isn't one to surrender so easily. She will remain on air as a DJ and music director at radio station WAYZ. She has also made a commitment to do what she can to fight a disease she shares with all too many others.
Tori has organized The Walk with Tori To Find a Cure for Scleroderma. Every penny collected will be donated to the Scleroderma Research Center. The Walk will be on September 11 at Doub's Woods Park in Hagerstown, Maryland. Registration will begin at 1:00 and the Walk will start at 3:00. Many wonderful silent auction items are available for bid.
Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine is a sponsor of this event, and some of us will be walking. We would love to see you there, but if you can't come, your donations are welcome. To find out more about the walk, or to register, email walkwithtori@gmail.com or call (301)733-tori.
Click here to find out more about Scleroderma.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Boot Camp for Women Begins Again at Rankins Fitness Center

So it's the middle of summer, and you're just hanging by the pool. Do you like what you see? Do you like how you feel? Or have the barbecues and lazy days caught up with you? Well, it's not too late to do something about it! Rankins Fitness Center is once again offering its Boot Camp for Women, with lots of times to choose from, so  "I'm too busy" is not going to cut it as an excuse! Check it out. You can even get there at the crack of dawn and get your workout out of the way!
Every Tuesday & Thursday Starting NEXT TUESDAY
6:15am-7:00am
7:15am-8:00am
9:00am-9:45am
...
Monday/Wednesday (if we have at least 10 people!) START UP DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
6:15pm-7:00pm
Sign up online www.rankinptfc.com and while you're at it, check out their other programs.... something for everyone - Judo, swimming lessons, tumbling! 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Bring it on, American Beverage Association

So it's being reported that the American Beverage Association is suing New York's Health Department for running ads that link drinking soda to obesity. Really? Really, ABA? Because, guess what. DRINKING SODA CAN LEAD TO OBESITY. When we get overweight patients in our office, we always encourage them to lose weight. They ask us, "How? I really don't eat that much." We ask them what they drink. When told that the typical can of soft drink contains at least 140 calories, they are flabbergasted. Some of our patients take a Big Gulp to work and drink it throughout the day. Guess how many calories? 800! Guess what happens when they stop drinking soda, and switch to diet, or even, better, water? THEY LOSE WEIGHT!!!!
I'll ask it again. Why can't these companies realize that they are contributing to the illness, and sometimes, death, of millions of people and either offer smaller sizes of their product, or simply offer healthier products? And/Or, why don't we tax these unhealthy products so we can use the taxes to support these people when they develop diabetes, or have heart attacks? Oh. Your blogger is so angry right now! All I can think is that they really don't care. All they want to do is pump your body full of junk so they can pump their bank accounts full of money.
But you know what? People have to start caring about themselves, too, enough to tell Coke and Pepsi that they don't want to die of foot infections caused by diabetes, or have to buy two seats on the airplane because one isn't big enough. They have to tell Pepsi and Coke that they don't want to take medications every day for an illness that is totally preventable, that they want to spend their money on their grandkids that they will live long enough to entertain.
In the meantime, American Beverage Association, I guess you'd better just come on over to Hancock and sue Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine. Because we, too, believe that your products lead to obesity. And we're not going to stop telling our patients the truth!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Home sweet home

Read about Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine's participation in Maryland's pilot Patient Centered Medical Home project!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Happy Hour

 It's been a stressful week. Today is Friday and I've had my nose to thecomputer for about 24 hours off and on, or at least it feels like that. It's billing statement time, and this always gives me a headache. Each time I generate a bill, I feel the story of the bill almost haunting me. If it's an unpaid co-pay, I wonder: Did we just forget to collect it at visit time? Or was the person at the end of their paycheck and couldn't afford the $25? If it's a balance that's been carried over for several billing cycles, I feel the muscles in the back of my neck tensing up and I find myself wondering if the non-payer is a deadbeat, or just can't afford to pay. Regardless, all those little scenarios that I play to myself end up in the muscles of my neck and my back. I had to get out for awhile.
I hadn't exercised yet, and I knew that a Zumba class was happening in just about an hour. But I looked outside.It had been storming most of the day, but now the sun was filtering through the trees, and a light mist covered everything. It looked downright magical. I'm spending a few days here at my mother's in Shepherdstown while our daughter is interning at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and she lives in a subdivision right on the Potomac River. It's a great place for walking, and I was feeling a distinct invitation. So I went out and walked for an hour.
I took my phone, which has  a camera. I realized as I walked, that I wasn't  thinking about all the week's problems, or all the small ones I had perhaps imagined hiding in the billing statements. I was looking at things. I started taking some pictures. I'm not a photographer, but that didn't stop me from seeing wonder in everything around me. The simple majesty of a giant tree... the juicy wild raspberries waiting along the road for me to pick...the yard of the neighbor who makes "stone people" and has enchanting wooden sculptures hidden in her forest....the loneliness of a tractor, abandoned for the weekend even made me feel a bit melancholy. The cascade of maple tree seed pinwheels, and the lazy descent of one unlucky enough to get blown away... it all became a lovely collage of images that slowly calmed me as I walked along. I realized as much as the stress points in my life became a physical part of me, the beautiful things also do. I don't know why I never thought of it that way before. But now that I know, I vow to consciously seek out the ordinary beauty that lives all around us and allow it to become a living part of me.
 If you're reading this on a blog feeder and want to see the pictures, come to the blog.
 




Tuesday, June 28, 2011

When Claims don't get paid

I'm getting ready to send out another cycle of billing statements, which means I'm going to get a few phone calls from patients who are anxious to know why their insurance didn't pay for something that they think it should've. Let me tell you what we do when a claim is denied:


  • If it's denied because the service is supposedly not covered under the patient's policy, and I see that they've had similar services covered previously, I always call the insurance company. Often this straightens things out, and the claim is "reconsidered." This can take up to 6 weeks, believe it or not. If it turns out that whatever it is isn't covered, the patient gets billed.
  • If the service is denied because the patient has received the service within a period too short to be covered (ie, a complete physical within 2 years when the policy only covers one every 3 years), we have to bill the patient for the service. It's the patient's responsibility to know what their insurance plan covers.
  • Sometimes a claim is denied because the patient is no longer covered by that insurer. I always check this online - almost every insurer has a website where providers can at least check eligibility. If I get the information that the patient's insurance has been terminated before the "date of service," I attempt to call the patient to get their new insurance information. If they don't have any coverage, or they never return my call, we bill the patient for the visit.
  • Insurers are very wary about whether an office visit covered a "Pre-existing condition." This refers to a health condition that existed before you started coverage with them. Often we are required to send your medical records to the insurer so they can investigate it further. This can hold up your claim for literally months, and then, it can be denied. We have no choice but to bill you for this visit.
  • Sometimes a claim is denied because we made a mistake. Read this article (which prompted this post, by the way) and you'll see some of the coding errors that can happen. In our office, Dr. Nelson and Dr. Hahn code their own office visits in what we call an "encounter". In order for an encounter to be sent as a claim to your insurance company, they translate their visit notes into CPT (Current Procedural Technology) codes describing what they did during the visit that are linked to ICD (International Statistical Classifications of Diseases) codes that indicate what conditions they were treating. If these don't make sense when they're linked on a claim, it's rejected. Sometimes a CPT code hat's not appropriate for a patient might be used by mistake-- maybe they used a CPT for a preventive visit for a 12-17 year old when they were actually seeing an 18-year old. Usually this is a simple mistake on the provider's part. We fix it, send it back, and it's paid. This, too, can take 6 weeks for the insurer to correct.


There are other things that can happen, too. It comes down to this. It's the patient's responsibility to know whether or not they have insurance, and what is covered. When you check in at our office, you are asked "Has your insurance changed? Have you received a new card?" Before coming in to any doctor's office, you should make sure you're covered for what you're going in for, especially if it's a new office, or something you haven't had done before. It's also your responsibility to review the Explanation of Benefits that the insurance company sends you following any visit where you used your insurance. If there's something on there that you don't understand, you can call them and they should explain it to you. And it's our responsibility to send in correct claims, and to follow up with those that don't make it through for whatever reason. 

If you get a bill from us that you don't understand, we will always discuss it with you. We keep copies of the Explanation of Benefits that we receive when your claim gets paid, and we can help explain those to you as well if you're having trouble understanding why an insurer didn't cover something. We know how confusing it can all be.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Ah Summer! Look at the jewel-like rows of gorgeous fruits and vegetables at the Farmers Market. Even the produce in the grocery store looks better than ever. But what happens if you just don't feel like cooking? It's too hot. You're too busy having fun. Unexpected company drops by and you'd rather chat than be stuck in the kitchen. It's too hot to eat! I know all the excuses! Well, here are some ideas to get you out of the kitchen while maintaining a healthy diet.
Look in your garden and pick the biggest, juiciest tomatoes you can find. Surely you've planted some basil along-side? Cook some couscous, and then while it's cooling a bit, cut the tomatoes into cubes and slice the basil very thinly. You can mince some garlic too. If you have some fresh mozzarella, cut it into small cubes and let it join the party you have when you toss it all together. Here's a recipe if you're feeling unsure.  You could also use orzo or even regular pasta if you didn't have couscous.

Or, take those same tomatoes, garlic and basil and chop them all together. Slice your fresh mozzarella, and then slice some french bread very thinly. Toast the slices until just golden brown, and then heap the tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella on top. Instant bruschetta! You can also broil it for a moment to melt the mozzarella if you like. I could personally live on bruschetta all summer if I had to. Unless, of course, gazpacho were an option.

Gazpacho is a family favorite.  In case you've never had this chilled soup, it's basically a tomato broth with lots of finely chopped vegetables. I usually take 2 cups or so of tomato juice, blend in a handful of cucumber, red pepper, small amount of onion and garlic, a teaspoon or so of balsamic vinegar, some olive oil, and whirl it in the blender until I've created a delicious broth. Then, I add chopped cucumbers, any kind of peppers, tomatoes, oregano, until it looks and tastes good. If I'm short on time, I stick in the freezer for 30 or so minutes; better still is letting it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours so the flavors can all blend. If you're new to making gazpacho, or feel like you need a recipe, either google "Gazpacho" or look at Cooking Light's offerings. The fact that you'll get practically all your daily requirements from this wonderful soup is just a bonus to the wonderful taste.

What's your favorite hot weather recipe?

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

This Just In: US Life Expectancy Lags Far Behind

I wasn't surprised to read this article on WebMD last week about a study that shows that life expectancies in most U.S. counties are lagging far behind other countries. I understand the four reasons given that we're behind Spain, Norway, France, and Canada to name just 4 of the 36 countries that have a higher life expectancy than men and women in the United States: Income and education, access to healthcare, quality of healthcare, and preventable risk factors.


After I finished obsessing over the amazing animated map that shows, among other things, that in 2007, Morgan County WV men on average can expect to live to 74.1, and that Slovenia and Oman have better life expectancies than that, I decided to read the PDF of the study for more detail. I browsed through, reading that the geographic disparities in life expectancies vary more in the US than in Canada (which has a lot more wilderness than the US), more than 85% of US counties have fallen behind instead of catching up or doing better than other countries between 2000 and 2007, and despite all this, we outspend every country on healthcare. I finally reached the end where I read the sobering words "Given the poor performance of the US on health outcomes, a performance that is worsening each year, it is time for new thinking targeted to where the biggest impact can be made on health outcomes." Well, duh!


Preventable risk factors, according to the study summarized in the article, is the number one reason we are so behind. Smoking and obesity are the biggest risk factors that could prevent chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Other countries are doing much more than we are to encourage their citizens to give up bad habits, sometimes to the point of enforcing good health habits. For example, when obesity rates in France started to climb, the French passed laws that prohibited the sale of junk food in their schools, levied a tax on food companies that didn't  encourage healthy eating, and banned misleading food advertising. French politicians considered the obesity rate to be so critical that they got local communities to govern their overweight and obesity levels in a program called Epode (this is a translated page, so excuse some of the awkward language!). Epode, from what I can gather, made everyone in a community a stakeholder in their fight against obesity. Leaders were held responsible for their community's progress. Allowing communities to direct their own program also allowed for cultural differences, so there was no directed format from the national government. Obesity was lowered by 25% in some communities in the 6 years the program's been running, and is considered a success.


The fact that we are finally putting really scary warnings on cigarettes makes me hopeful that perhaps our health leaders are paying attention. I hope states will go further and jack up the tax on these cancer sticks. And the next time I see one of those ads decrying possible taxes levied on soda, I just might write a letter to Congress encouraging them to do so. The woman in this ad insinuates that the government is telling us how to eat and drink with taxes. Americans Against Food Taxes, the organization that paid for the ad, is made up of all my love-to-hates: Burger King, Coca-Cola, Domino's Pizza, Wendy's.... who of course don't want you to spend your dollars on healthy food! Why these companies don't start offering more healthy food, with the unhealthy stuff as a minority of the menu, only makes me think they really are the devil that's trying to fatten us up so we can sizzle better in Hell in the name of "the gov'munt can't tell me what to eat!"


Realizing that most citizens are against government intervention makes me realize, sadly, that we have become a country that really does not care about each other. Being healthy doesn't just benefit the individual. Being a healthy individual has a profound ripple effect. Remember that elementary school teacher that missed more than half a year because she was sick all the time? Remember how miserable your kid was when substitute after substitute was marched in to  babysit the kids? And what about the cost of taking care those patients chronically ill with a preventable illness? According to the study, the US outspends every single country in healthcare. I'm sure we can all think of someone in our community who smoked themselves into the lung cancer ward, or lives on oxygen. Or needs a scooter because they're too obese to manage the supermarket aisles. Who do you think is paying for that? It's us, folks. Us. Our tax dollars pay for Medicare and Medicaid; our health insurance premiums go up with the cost of healthcare. I'm not saying we should begrudge these victims their healthcare. I'm saying let's have fewer victims. We should be throwing some of that money into prevention, and enacting some real regulations that prevent poor health.


Healthcare providers can only do so much. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink water instead of soda pop. And, believe it or not, there isn't a pill that can fix everything. Until people start taking their health seriously, we will continue to outspend every country on the globe and die earlier from preventable diseases before most of them.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Rankins wants to get you ready for summer!

It's easy to let your workout schedule get off-track in the summer with so much going on. Some of us have less structured schedules once school is out, relatives come and visit, and then there are your own vacations! Making a commitment to your exercise routine is sometimes easier when you join a class. Now Rankins is offering a great range of classes for you to participate in:
Bootcamp 1

Entry level cass to build endurance
This class is for someone who is new to exercise , has had an extended break from exercise (child birth, lack of fitness, etc), or does not exercise regularly.
  •  Mon & Wed 7:00-7:45AM with Rachel (starts 6/20) 
  • Tue & Thu 6:15-7:00AM with Morgan (starts 6/7)

 Bootcamp 2

 Build Strength & Lose Inches

 This class is for someone who exercises regularly, but would like to improve their metabolism, strength, and fitness level.

 
  • Mon & Wed 6:15-7:00PM with Morgan (starts 6/6)
  • Tue & Thu 9:00-9:45AM with Tracy (starts 6/7)

 Bootcamp 3

 Final level class burn fat and tone muscle

 This class is for someone who exercises regularly, is used to prolonged physical exertion and is ready to step up their workout!

 
  • Mon & Wed 5:30-6:15PM w/ Rachel (starts 6/20)

 Cardio 1

 Fitness Walking-suggested to be taken in conjunction with Bootcamp 1

 This class is for someone who is new to cardiovascular exercise and would like to begin a regimen that will strengthen their heart and raise their fitness level

  •  Tue & Thu 7:15-8:00AM w/ Rachel (starts 6/21) 
  • Tue & Thu 4:15-5:00PM w/ Rachel (starts 6/21)

 Cardio 2

 Fitness walking/jogging-suggested to be taken in conjunction with Bootcamp 2

 This class is for someone who regularly exercises, but is looking for a new regimen that will aid in fat loss and overall heart health.

  •  Tue & Thu 8:00-8:45AM w/ Rachel (starts 6/21)

 Ladies Circuit Training

 New kind of workout 30 seconds on/off machines

 This class is designed for all ladies regardless of experience in the gym. The circuit is always set up but the following times are when an instructor will be there to aid you through your workout.

  •  Monday through Friday 8:00-8:45AM w/ Morgan
  • Mon, Wed, & Fri 1:00-1:45PM w/ Tracy

 ***This class is FREE for our members $6 drop in rate for Non-members

  
Speed & Agility

 Designed & Trained by Andre McDonald

 Andre McDonald is a professional football player who has come to Rankin fitness Center to personal train you! He has taken his football experience and designed a speed and agility class that is suitable for all sports! Get in shape/stay in shape before sports camps! 
  • Monday & Wednesday 4:00-5:00PM w/ Andre

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Healthcare in the Age of Zombies

After two years of working in a medical practice, I'm still shocked when a patient is unwilling to try a diet and/or exercise plan to deal with their health issue before going on a prescription drug. I can sympathize with the patient who, despite a healthy lifestyle, has to go on medicine, as well as the patient who has a condition that can't be treated without medicine. They have no choice. But patients with chronic issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity owe it to themselves to try natural, self-driven methods of controlling their health problems. For one thing, it's less expensive, both for the patient, as well as the population at large. When patients have to get expensive medicine,  insurers pay the price, and guess who they pass that price onto? Yep. All of us.

And while we're talking about money, do people really like taking money out of their pockets to make the pharmaceutical companies even wealthier than they already are?  Sales of pharmaceuticals in the US amounted to $289 billion dollars in 2009, accounting for more than half of all international sales. How about taking care of yourself, and if  you want to give your money away, fund the skatepark or your local Arts Council instead of those pharmaceutical companies :)

Also, why would anyone want  to depend on something if they didn't have to? "Being healthy" might mean just 300  fewer calories a day, and 30 minutes of exercise. Wouldn't that be better, and healthier, than relying on medicines?  Do people go on welfare before trying their best to get a job and take care of their families themselves? Because that's what drugs are like if you haven't tried a healthy lifestyle first: welfare for your body.

Enough of the sobering realism. What if we have a Zombie invasion? The CDC has even prepared a document to prepare us for this event! And sure, it just makes sense to stock up on your medications, but they can't last forever. What do you think will happen when your meds run out? By then, the pharmaceutical companies have probably shut down, and all the workers have been eaten. Are you going to be fit enough to run from a Zombie? Or are you going to be getting sicker and sicker, unable to run from the Zombies because you can't have your pills and you've ignored your fitness?

I'm just sayin'.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Addendum to yesterday's rant

Of course I had to google and see if my blog made it to the search engines yet. It didn't, but I found this. It kind of made my day!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

My day to vent

This blog is for you, patients and fans, but sometimes I just need to vent, ok? One of my jobs is making sure that Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine gets paid. Usually things go pretty well but today was my day to go through unpaid claims and figure out why we didn't get paid. I have to tell you, Carefirst and Blue Cross Blue Shield patients: your insurance is a big headache for many reasons. But today was a killer.

Maryland just passed a law last year as part of healthcare reform that allows providers to bill insurance companies a small extra charge whenever they see a patient outside of "regular" business hours. Regular business hours are after 6 on weekdays. We see patients until 7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and as you know, our doctors will occasionally see patients on the weekends (and even make a house call now and then!). The law was passed partly to encourage providers to see patients in the office rather than have them go to the more expensive emergency room. If you've ever had to go to an ER, you know it's way more expensive than your friendly physician's office, and well, not nearly as friendly.

So we saw a young patient in our office one recent Saturday. We billed the extra $10. Whoopee! Ten dollars doesn't seem like a lot does it, when you consider the provider interrupted his busy Saturday, drove 6 miles to and from the office....? Anyway. Carefirst didn't pay it because this patient is "self-insured" and apparently the law exempts self-insured policies. This made me angry. They didn't *have* to pay it so they didn't. Well, guess what Carefirst? We didn't *have* to see that patient in our office. We could've sent her to the ER, or told her she'd have to wait until Monday to see a doctor. So I wrote a letter to the Senior Vice President. Here's what I said:

M. Bruce Edwards
Senior Vice President, Network Management
Carefirst

We recently filed a claim containing the CPT 99050. It was returned with that part of the claim unpaid. After filing an appeal, we received a letter stating that those patients who had self-paid policies would not be getting that CPT reimbursed, and that it is not required to be reimbursed by law.
Just because you aren't required by law to reimburse this doesn't mean you shouldn't. We are saving your company significant money by not directing our patients to emergency rooms and urgent care facilities after hours. In this case, a young patient was very ill on a Saturday, Instead of the office visit we billed Carefirst, she could've gone to an ER and been billed much more. Furthermore, she would've had to deal with a strange doctor, which is not ideal especially when dealing with a small child. Or, she could've stayed home until Monday and gotten worse.
We are not required by law to provide after-hours services but we choose to do it, in part because it's a symbol of how much we care for our patients. We do this regardless of what kind of insurance our patients have, or even if they have no insurance. It isn't always economically advantageous to do so, especially given that we practice in a rural area. We think it makes us a better practice. We're disappointed in you as an insurer that you don't strive to do the same for us and our patients. 

So there. I got to blow off steam. And by the way, don't worry. This is not a charge we're planning on passing on to our patients if your insurance company decides you're not important enough to pay it. Because you are important enough to us.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Take an Art Drive this weekend

Take the Berkeley Springs Studio Tour  this weekend to indulge in our area's unique beauty, both natural and man-made. As you meander through Morgan County, admiring the wildflowers, lush green foliage, and the rushing of Sleepy Creek, you can stop by a multitude of art studios and see what our local artists are up to. There's nothing like gazing at a beautiful work of art, trying to imagine what inspired the artist, and understanding the hard work that went into a masterpiece; many of the artists offer demos of their work and intensive tours of their studios. For example, walking into the Hsu Studio is like walking into fairyland; there are sparkles of light everywhere as the sun dances over the amazing anodized aluminum works. Best of all, Jean Paul and Carol Hsu offer a guided tour of how their jewelry is made. Or check out Frog Valley Artisans, an artists' collective where you can see high-end metal sculpture, stained glass, pottery, photography, and more all in one place. Warning: after you fully appreciate the work and thought that goes into artwork like this, you may not ever be able to buy mass-produced items again!
"Archaeologists have not yet discovered any stage of human existence without art. Even in the half-light before the dawn of humanity we received this gift from Hands we did not manage to discern." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn from his Beauty Will Save the World: The Nobel Lecture on Literature
Art is good for the soul. Looking at any kind of beauty is relaxing, inspiring, and revitalizing; it's especially so when you get to meet the artists responsible for the work. So take some time out this weekend for this special opportunity. 

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Healthy eating when dining out


More and more meals are being eaten outside of the home these days. In fact, the typical American consumer now is almost as likely to spend just as many dollars on food away from home as on food prepared at home. The fact that the obesity rate is climbing just as fast as the rate of dining out may or may not be linked; regardless, it's even more important that you scrutinize your choices when dining out. When you're eating at a restaurant, you are much more likely to make impulsive, unhealthy choices than when you're carefully planning your family's menu at home. You're not always sure about what undesirable ingredients, or method of preparation, has gone into an entree when you order from a restaurant. So here are some simple rules of thumb to keep you on track while dining out:

  • First and foremost, order small! I love Five Guys  but their regular burger is just way too big. So I order a Little Burger, which still packs 480 calories (vs the regular, which clocks 700). 
  • One of my favorite ideas comes from my mother and her beau, Dan. Instead of ordering two big entrees, they order one to split, sometimes with appetizers or a salad to round out the meal. My family also really enjoys sharing a dessert. 
  • If you're dining by yourself, or your dining partner doesn't want to share an entree, have the waiter box half your entree right away. You can have it for lunch the next day.
  • A little advanced planning can go a long way. If you're eagerly anticipating a date night, but you're concerned about overeating, try going to the restaurant's website and check out the fare beforehand. You can plan a few healthy choices instead of being overwhelmed when you get there.
  • Start with a salad and send the bread basket away. The vegetables will tell your belly it's getting full, but it'll be full of vitamins instead of relatively empty simple carbs. Always order dressing on the side.
  • If you're choosing alcoholic beverages for your celebration, remember that 1 gram of alcohol has 7 calories! Mixers usually have a lot of sugar so be careful when considering a mixed drink. A glass of wine or a light beer are better choices because you know exactly what's in them. Also remember that alcohol in general lowers your inhibitions, and those inhibitions could include a bad decision about bingeing on something you wouldn't normally consider. Check out this article on WebMd for more
  • And always, always, always, allow yourself to indulge now and then! Indulging in a favorite delicious meal with good friends or family is a wonderful way to celebrate a special event. Restricting yourself too much is just going to make you feel deprived and could lead to bingeing later.  And sometimes it really does make sense to eat dessert first!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Salad days are here!

The approaching warmer weather (it's really coming, believe me!) means you're going to want to spend less time cooking over a hot stove. It also means a plethora of wonderful sun-ripened produce, either at the Farmers Market (every Sunday in Berkeley Springs!), from a roadside stand, or even from the good old grocery store. Why not try some main dish salads for dinner over the next few months? You already know how to toss a salad, using whatever looks good. But ramp it up a notch, and make your own dressing. A simple vinaigrette can be nothing more than 3 parts oil to one part vinegar, or you can get fancy and experiment with different flavored vinegars such as balsamic, fruit-flavored (raspberry is really nice), or one of the wine-flavored vinegars (try to match it to whatever meat or other main ingredient that you're using). Add some herbs, fresh if you have them, some salt and pepper, taste and correct the seasoning, and you're done. 

Besides tossed salads, you might try a composed salad. One of our family's favorite composed salads is the Salad Nicoise. You don't have to use fresh tuna like this recipe does; just use a good quality canned tuna if that's what you have. But the vegetables should definitely  be fresh....Serve with a nice homey bread and maybe a glass of wine, and it's suitable for company.

Or try a chopped salad. You'll literally load your chopping board with whatever you have on hand and chop it all into uniform, small pieces. Here's some ideas to get you started:
Lettuce, avocado, red onion, bacon, red pepper, spinach, chives, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers. If you want to see a demo of how it's done, check out this video. I find that when the ingredients are chopped, you often don't even need dressing, since the ingredients meld together so nicely on their own. 

Salads are fresh excuses to get creative with your ingredients, creating a healthy meal in the bargain. Have fun!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Zumbathon for the Bikers/Skaters

Happy Friday the 13th!
The blogger is back. She's been out of town, and then, as soon as she got home, she got sick! But that's all behind us now, and it's time to start writing again!
I wrote awhile back lauding the benefits of having a bike/skate park in the area. Bikers and skaters need a safe and legal place to practice their sport just as much as kids who play soccer and football. Giving them a safe place to practice makes the sidewalks and streets safe for everyone. Entrepreneurs will have a chance to profit by opening businesses that cater to the sport and existing shops can stock items for the bikers and skaters that are sure to flock in droves to check out the new park. Enthusiasm for the park is building, evidenced by the number of people who have shown up on workdays to help plant a rain garden and install ramps. And now that enthusiasm is growing in new ways: watch for a plethora of fun fundraisers coming up this summer.

One of those events is a Zumbathon that I plan on participating in on June 26th. Zumba mamis will be asking for people to sponsor them to do Zumba for 2 hours! If you're interested in sponsoring me or anyone else, shoot me an email and I'll get you set up. Also coming up is a Blender at the skatepark on June 18, featuring bands and skater demonstrations for just a $5 donation. If you're thinking of joining Rankins Fitness Center, they recently posted that they will donate 15% of any new memberships to the Park.

OK we'll be back to our regularly scheduled blogging next week. Tune in and watch for new recipes, fitness ideas, and health tips.

Monday, April 18, 2011

What's for dinner? Ask Google.

Monday is recipe of the week day here on the blog. But what happens in real life when you're trying to get inspired to make something for dinner and can't think of anything? Right. That's what happened to me today. Luckily, I have some things to fall back on. One of them is my computer where I have iGoogle as the default home page in my browser. iGoogle allows users to choose which "Gadgets" to display within its frame, including news, weather, stocks, sports, and recipes! I love looking for recipes online, but I love it even better when a good recipe greets me when I turn on my computer. One of my iGoogle gadgets is "The World's Healthiest Foods," which each week features a healthy food. This week's "healthiest food" is lamb, and there on my iGoogle page is a recipe for 10-minute Rosemary Lamb Chops. Yum!

To get started, go to igoogle.com. If you don't have a Google account or an iGoogle page, you can click on the Get Started link. Once you've created a page, you can click the "Add stuff" link on the upper right part of the page and find interesting "gadgets" to add to your page and they'll be there everytime you go to this page.

So what am I making for dinner tonight? I thought I'd save the lamb chops for the weekend when we can relax and really enjoy them, but tonight I'm going to try these Southwestern Turkeyburgers. I love anything with avocado in it, and it's under 350 calories, so it's sure to be a winner. Bon appetit!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Fitness and Technology Update: Podcasts!

Did you ever wish you could have a fitness coach in your pocket, or even better, right in your ear, telling you what to do? Well, you can. If you have an iPod or other device that plays MP3 files, you should check out podcasts. Podcasts are recorded programs and you can find one for just about any interest you might have. I download podcasts of my favorite NPR shows such as This American Life and Radiolab. But lately I've been letting my iPod guide me through my Pilates and Yoga practice.

Admittedly, using an audio podcast is probably not the best introduction to a new fitness program. To learn Yoga or any other technique, you probably want to start with classes, or at the very least, a DVD program. You need to learn proper technique by watching and doing, and ideally, getting corrections from a real instructor before doing any kind of exercise. I've been taking Yoga and Pilates for years, so I feel very comfortable, for example, when a voice in my ear prompts me to get in to the "plank" pose, or instructs me to do "the hundred." However, I don't always feel motivated or organized enough to put all those poses and exercises together to form a routine. That's when I pick up my iPod and get to work. I love this set of under-30 minute routines by Phoebe Kelly. Phoebe has a very successful practice in New York, especially with private clients whose complaint was only that they couldn't meet with her as much as they wanted. Her answer to them was this set of podcasts to keep them limber in between her visits. Her gentle (but firm!) voice flows through each exercise, reminding you when to breathe and other helpful hints. You might find it helpful to perform the exercises in front of a mirror so you can relate what she's saying to what your body is doing. I always feel strengthened, lengthened, and relaxed after doing these routines!

The website that hosts Phoebe Kelly's Pilates and Yoga podcasts has a plethora of exercise options. Do you have a stationary bike sitting idle in your house? Get that thing spinning by checking out one of the cycling  podcasts. Going out for a walk and you want to stay focused on your fitness? There are a ton of podcasts to keep your arms and legs swinging. The podcasts in iAmplify are reasonably priced, from $2.95, and there is no membership required.

You can find podcasts easily if you have iTunes. In iTunes, click the Store link, and use Search to find the type of exercise you're interested in (eg Strength training).  Then click the "Podcasts" link to filter your results to show only podcasts (rather than music or movies, etc) for that topic. Note that there are also video podcasts here; this would be great if you have an iPad or computer in your exercise space. Best of all, most of these podcasts are free. Once you subscribe to a podcast, depending on how you have iTunes set up, each time a new podcast is created, it will automatically download to your computer. Then you just sync them to your iPod or other device and it's all yours.

Podcasts are becoming a regular feature on some websites as well. Try using whatever search engine you like to find one. For example, I typed "workout podcast" into Google, and look what I found.

So don't just lie on your couch plugged in to your iPod! Find a podcast and start moving today.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Healthy for the planet=healthy for us ALL

So it's Thursday and I've completely missed my regular Monday-Wednesday columns. I'll write my fitness column (usually on Tuesdays) tomorrow. In honor of Earth month, I'm going to try to stay on track and feature earth-friendly practices on "random Thursdays". After all, if the planet we're living on is healthier, wouldn't you think it would be good for the beings that live on it?

There's a new kid in town. Haulin' Glass is offering a service that I've wanted since I moved from the DC area to Berkeley Springs: recycling pickup. When I first moved here in 2000, there wasn't any recycling at all. However, within a few years, we were able to gather up our recyclables and haul them to our closest school on a Saturday every month. Then a couple of years ago, the Charles Biggs recycling center opened on 522S, and we're able to bring them there anytime they're opened. That was a bit more convenient, but still, the recycling has a tendency to pile up on the weekends when we're not able to get there when they're open.  I recently discovered Haulin Glass on Facebook and, much to my delight, read that they were offering pickup service! I subscribed, and got in touch with Ashley Jones and got to ask her a few questions.


How has response been so far? We've been receiving really great feedback from residents and the community in general. Most of it is along the lines of "it's about time!" We gave a presentation to the town council and they are totally on board, Morgan Sanitation supports the idea, various publications and media avenues (such as yours) have offered free publicity. It's just been really great knowing that so many Berkeley Springians are happy to have this service and are as passionate as we are about doing some good.
What made you decide to offer this service? Just like many of our customers, our recyclables kept piling up and eventually took over the basement. Who knew it would be such a hassle to get them to the center? One day I (Ashley) called Adam and said, let's just start picking up recycling, there has got to be more people like us out there! Within a few weeks we sorted out details, advertised, and hoped people would respond. Thankfully they did.
Have you had a business like this before? Never. This was entirely new to us. I knew a bit about starting a business but that's where our experience ended. Needless to say it's been quite the learning experience, but a surprisingly smooth one.
Where are you from? Adam is from a little southern West Virginia town called Fraziers Bottom. Although I haven't always lived in Berkeley Springs, I've been here for most of my life and claim it as my hometown.
What's your background? I knew this question would get asked. One facebook friend sent us a message that simply said "who are you?" I'll admit I wanted that stuff to stay in the background, but realized it's good for people to be able to know the people behind the business. I - Ashley Jones - have been in Berkeley Springs most of my life and graduated from BSHS in 2006. Although I moved around a bit, I ended up attending Shepherd and graduating with a business degree in December 2010 and decided to stay in Berkeley. I currently take care of Haulin' Glass and work for Mountain View Solar & Wind here in Berkeley Springs. My boyfriend, Adam Keeling moved here in 2006 when he was offered the job of kindergarten teacher at Pleasant View Elementary School, where he continues to work today. He's the face of the company and does all of the collecting. He's a super friendly guy so if you see him emptying your bins feel free to start a conversation, I promise you'll be entertained. We have no kids, just a little dog named Belle.
Anything else you want to tell the people?: I really want to stress that our goal is to encourage recycling by making it easier. It's amazing to see how much trash can be saved from the landfill and reused in an unbelievable amount of ways. Although we do have a few guidelines, we want to work with anyone who is willing to work with us. Need different sized bins than what we offer? We'll work around that. Do you really want to recycle but can't afford our prices? Let us know. Wish we would do this instead of that? Tell us about it. We're absolutely open to suggestions, because you probably know as much about this business as we do, and may have some better ideas. We're aware that the relationship between collector and customer is a negative one, if you will. What makes things easier for the customer makes it harder for the collector and vice verse, so we're constantly looking for ways to find the best balance between the two.

I think it's great that these young people have found it in their guts and heart to start this business. You can get in touch with them via their website or give them a call at 304-258-6351 for more information.