Renton, WA

Valley Medical Center offers many of us the convenience of neighborhood clinic facilities for emergency and urgent care. Months ago, I wondered what was the difference? Well, they must be reading my blog, because my question has been answered.

Urgent is less life threatening, and less expensive, than emergency. Paradoxically, the Urgent Care Clinic Manager Cathy Roberts states that the wait time is “much shorter” for the urgent care facilities. So the more life-threatening your situation is, the longer you have wait. She goes on to explain “Because Emergency Departments must maintain extreme levels of staff and equipment, they have to charge a premium for visits. When a medical issue is not life-threatening, patients can save a lot of money by going to urgent care.”

There is also an advantage to using one of VMC’s clinics, instead of a stand-alone clinic. They are able to provide a continuity of care and access to patient records. And VMC clinics have a direct link to the hospital system, where more comprehensive services are immediately available, if needed.

Coming soon, will be Valley Urgent Care, located near VMC’s hospital campus. Ideal for those situations that don’t quite require (the cost of) an emergency room. Other urgent care facilities are extending their hours to meet growing demand.

The two latest urgent care facilities are
Covington Urgent Care
253.595.2006
16850 SE 272nd Street, Covington
M-F 8am-8pm; Sat & Sun 8am-4pm

Renton Highlands Urgent Care
425.656.5518
451 Duvall Ave NE Suite 120, Renton
M-F 8am-8pm; Sat & Sun 8am-4pm

Do you need to vote today? It depends on which political party you support.

For the Democrats, it was all decided weeks ago. Obama’s caucus win left zero Democratic delegates at stake. Republicans, however, still have half - that would be 19 - delegates in play.

Despite the relevance question, a record turnout is predicted for Washington’s primary. “We’re really expecting to be close to half the voters,” said Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

The real problem is our absentee votes, which are used by the majority of voters. If you voted absentee, you were required to check a party affiliation and sign. If you didn’t check a party affiliation, your vote doesn’t count. And let me tell you, they are watching closely for signatures that don’t match, and your vote won’t count.

I’ll admit it. I frequently sign paperwork for my husband. The bank probably wouldn’t know what to do with his actual signature endorsing a check. So when I saw that he forgot to check the party loyalty oath and sign, I checked the appropriate party and signed his name. This is the only time I have been busted for signing his name.

We got a letter stating that the signature didn’t match, and his vote wouldn’t count unless he signed the enclosed voter registration form, and included a copy of his drivers license. Then they would update their records with his “new” signature. His “new” signature is probably more frequently seen than the one on his drivers license, but I decided that would be some form of fraud. So he needs to go vote in person on the 19th, or more likely, just skip it.

Whether you are going in person, or sending in an absentee ballot, please watch that party loyalty oath!

Renton Technical College has partnered with the Small Business Development Center to provide a BIZSCHOOL. BIZSCHOOL is a nearly free day full of small business seminars. By nearly free, I mean the cost is $15 and lunch is provided.

Bizschool starts with registration for walk-ins and a general welcome at 8:30AM, followed by 60/90 minute time blocks staring at 9:00. Each time block has 3-5 classes to choose from, including during the lunch time block. Some, but not all, classes are repeated. The class format includes panel presentations, roundtable discussions, and lectures - all with handouts. You only need to attend those classes which interest you.
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Back in October, we in WA state passed R67, which makes it illegal for an insurance company to “unreasonably” deny a claim. And now, the first test is coming to court.

Cigna Life insurance provided accidental death insurance for a man who died, apparently accidentally. He had multiple sclerosis and died after a fall. According to Cigna, however, their team of doctors decided that the man had a heart attack which caused his death. I believe the cause of death is decided by an autopsy, not insurance lawyers - I watch CSI so I know these things - but at any rate, I would expect that having a heart attack would be accidental as well. However, technically a heart attack doesn’t count as an accident, and wouldn’t be covered by the accidental death policy.

Jodi Scanlon has obtained an attorney. They feel that Cigna has looked for excuses to unreasonably deny the claim, first by blaming a heart attack, and then his medication, as not covered under the terms of the policy. “Cigna Group Insurance determined, based on extensive medical review, that the unfortunate circumstances of Mr. Scanlon’s death were not covered under the terms of the accidental death insurance policy,” said Gloria Barone with the company.

Now a jury will decide if an insurance company unreasonably denied a family’s claim and whether Cigna will be the first to pay triple damages. I imagine that no jury is sympathetic to insurance companies when they deny claims, so it may be hard finding a impartial jury. Watch this precedent-setting case. Cigna says it will give a more detailed explanation for denying the family’s claim in court.

A local Renton resident is on TV again. First we had Renton resident Tanji Johnson on American Gladiators. Now we have a Renton family, the Hale-Jos, receiving a free home makeover courtesy of Oprah Winfrey. They will be on the show today (Tuesday 11/12) at 4PM.

The show’s producers called the family in November after hearing from Hale’s wife, Kari, about the family’s struggles since she and Dave took legal custody of their three nieces –8-year-old Lily, 10-year-old Izzy and 11-year-old Jade — a year and a half ago. Expenses went up. Remodeling projects were put on hold. Kari quit to take care of her own 2 year old, Ty, and the the three girls. Their 1960s tract house just wasn’t big enough for six, Kari explained.

My own Renton home makeover has been taking closer to a decade. So what was accomplished in two weeks? Renowned home decorator Nate Berkus and more than 100 crew members doubled the size of the home. They added a new bedroom, a second floor, 200 gallons of paint and new landscaping. And more celebrities pitched in as well. The Seattle Seahawks donated muscle and the stars of High School Musical threw in movie props and costumes as gifts to the kids, who fell in love with Berkus throughout the process.

The results will air today in a full hour episode (see photos and details on Oprah’s site).

Since the random DUI checkpoints didn’t pass, the powers that be have another idea for cracking down on drunk drivers. Only this is more a retroactive shame technique, in case the existing penalties are not a serious enough deterrent.

The latest proposal? Convicted drunk drivers would need to display a yellow license plate on their car. Republican senator Mike Carroll of Lakewood says this would be another tool to get people to stop drinking and driving. I’m not sure that his quote makes sense to me, though. “There are some people who don’t believe we should have shame in our community; that things are so bad that people should know that they’ve done them,” Carroll said. So is he saying that we should or should not shame people?

More importantly, would it be effective? “I don’t know yet,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said. “I don’t know how much we’ll accomplish by that and I need to talk with my experts in the state patrol and the chief and those in the sheriff’s and chiefs.” Mothers Against Drunk Driving says it’s not in favor of the idea because there’s no scientific data showing the special plates reduce drunk driving. Plus, innocent family members would have to ride in the car would bare the shame.

There is one other state that actually does this, and has for the past four years - that is Ohio. If the WA state bill passes, DUI drivers would have to drive with the special plates for one year. There would be an exemption when driving work vehicles.
What do you think? Good idea, or too “Scarlet Letter” for our society?

King5 has a headline which reads “Washington’s caucuses could have meaning“. What is that supposed to mean? It is news to be meaningful, as opposed to implied meaningless state in which we normally exist?

I know what they mean, but still feel snubbed. They go on to explain:“There’s the possibility that by Tuesday night, one or both major political parties could know who their presidential nominee will be. But if not, the stage will then turn to Saturday’s Washington caucuses.”

Well alright, then. I guess we’ll just wait and see.

Valley Medical Center offers several free seminars to the community. Call 425-262-INFO to register.

Headaches
March 20, 5:30pm in the Medical Arts Center Auditorium
Dr. Mark PIker from the Washington Neuroscience Institute discusses proven treatment plans for migraine, sinus, tension, and other types of headaches.

Joint Replacement Surgery
May 1, 5:30-7:30pm in the Medical Arts Center Auditorium
Seattle Magazine Top Doctor, Dr. William Barretts leads this discussion on joint replacement surgery. The Joint Center at VMC is ranked in the top 5% nationally, and is #1 in Seattle according to HealthGrades.

Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, and Weight Control
March 24, 6-7:30pm in the Medical Arts Center Auditorium

The Diabetic Eye: Protecting your Vision and
Understanding the Progression and Management of Type 2 Diabetes
June 30, 6-7:30pm in the Medical Arts Center Auditorium
Two seminars in one