Archives

First Beverly Hills ‘Wife’ Grace Robbins talks Andy Cohen and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

January 24, 2013

First Beverly Hills ‘Wife’ Grace Robbins talks Andy Cohen and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” is an ongoing drama of a scandalous group of ladies who for the most part (there are a few exceptions) couldn’t hold the water of REAL Hollywood housewives, according to the top wife herself, Grace Robbins.

Grace was the third wife of the late American novelist Harold Robbins, and was his longest marriage, and in her words “true love.”  Together they lived it up in decadent decades of the 1960s through the early 1980s.

Notably in the roaring sixties and seventies, Harold Robbins’ fiction was more widely read than the Bible. His steamy, potboiler novels sold more than 750 million copies, and created the sex-power-glamour genre of popular literature that would go on to influence everyone and everything from Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann to TV’s “Dallas” and “Dynasty.”  Most of his novels were turned into hit movies.

What many did not know was his fiction was more often than not based on fact and experiences from their lives as a power couple in Beverly Hills.

Grace chronicles their steamy escapes and dishes all in her tell all memoir that could be the stuff of a Harold Robbins novel, but it is real and even more scintillating.  Both Harold and Grace were at the forefront of the sexual revolution movement and were the iconic couple of that era.

What you notice immediately when you meet Grace Robbins is that she is still quite beautiful, and she was the original Beverly Hills trophy housewife who rubbed shoulders at the Bistro Garden, Trader Vics, The Luau, L’Escoffier, Jimmy’s, La Scala, L’Orangerie and the other time period hot spots with other equally well-paired ladies who ruled the 90210.

Loomis Dean–Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images Novelist Harold Robbins (“the man who turns sex and adventure into cash,” according to LIFE) and his family, wife Grace and daughter Adreana, at their villa in the hills above Cannes, France, in 1967.

 

Grace’s revealing tell-all, “Cinderella and the Carpetbagger: My Life as the Wife of ‘World’s Best-Selling Author” is published by Bettie Youngs Books

Harold and Grace Robbins were at the center of a globetrotting jet set, with mansions in Beverly Hills, and villas and yachts on the French Riviera and Acapulco. Their life together rivaled – and often surpassed – the characters’ adventures in his books. Champagne flowed, cocaine was inhaled and sex in this pre-AIDS era was embraced with abandon.

Along the way the couple agreed to a “modern marriage,” that Harold insisted upon.  Grace counted among her stable of lovers studs Sean Connery and Roger Moore (interested but rejected). When asked who was the better lover, she replied, “Sean because with him she was ‘shaken and stirred.'”

Rosemary Stack (L) – wife of Robert Stack

 

Monsters and Critics chatted with Grace briefly about the REAL Beverly Hills ladies who were part of her group.  They incuded Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor, Rosemary Stack (wife of Robert Stack), Shirley Fonda (wife of Henry), Ruth Berle (wife of Milton), Betsy Bloomingdale and Gini Mancini (wife of Henry).

When we asked her who threw the best parties, Grace said no one threw parties like she and Harold!

We asked her take on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” on Bravo, the network headed by one of her favorite TV executives, Andy Cohen.

“Andy Cohen, I am crazy about him. He is a composite of all the best men I have ever known. He does everything right on his show. I would love to be hanging out in the club house with him,” says Grace.

The sultry brunette of the series, Lisa Vanderpump, has become one of her favorites. “I think Lisa is very hard working and an absolute knock-out.  I can’t wait for my book launch party in April at her restaurant, the SUR Lounge.”

The troubled former wife of Eddie Cibrian, Brandi Glanville, was a mixed bag. “Brandi would have never survived in real Beverly Hills society in my day.  But Harold would have loved her!”

The current cougar slayer Adrienne Maloof (currently dating Rod Stewart’s son Sean) made Grace smile. “When I was 52  I had dalliance with a little number younger than 32 years old…It’s in my book.”

On Kyle Richards,  “She know what she wants and doesn’t want.  I wish I had her hair!”

And her troubled sister Kim Richards,  “I salute her for staying sober….stop feeling sorry for yourself and start listening to your sister!”

Newcomer Yolanda Foster,  “David Foster is a lucky guy.  And boy does he know it!”

Last but not least Taylor Armstrong,  “I like her and I really feel for her.  That said I think if she drank less she would be more liked!”

Original Article

Grace Robbins

Dr. Damon Raskin

Dr. Damon Raskin

Dr. Raskin is the father of two children. He is board-certified in internal medicine and has had a busy private practice in Pacific Palisades, California, since 1996. He also practices addiction medicine at the renowned Cliffside Malibu Residential Treatment Center in Malibu. He is on staff at St John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica and is medical director of Fireside Convalescent Hospital in Santa Monica, where he treats many geriatric patients.

How many children do you have, and what are their ages? I have 2 children: a bright bilingual 7-year old daughter, Skyler, and a very energetic 2-year-old son, Stone.

What was the biggest challenge you faced as a dad, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge that I face as a dad is finding the balance between work and family. It is constantly a struggle to be able to give everyone the attention they deserve … my patients, my wife, and my kids. It is never easy, but I always have to prioritize and sacrifice something. If I can’t read my daughter a story at night because I had to go see a patient, I will make sure we go for a bike ride on the weekend. It’s also about setting boundaries with patients, and making sure they know that if I am with my family and not on call, I will have another excellent physician covering for me who can help them. I work extremely hard and very long hours, so taking some time off work to spend with family is time you can never get back as a dad. That is why I make vacations a huge priority, and patients understand.

What’s the most surprising lesson that being a dad has taught you? The biggest surprise about being a dad is how fast it all seems to go. Although it is a cliché to say, it is so true. It seems like I was just changing diapers, and now my daughter is asking to go on sleepovers, and my son can already use my iPhone!

Since you can’t slow time down, just appreciate all the fun little moments, because they are what you cherish most.

What’s the one bit of advice about fatherhood you wish someone had given you much earlier? It is very important to not forget about spending time with your partner alone. Having date nights and a little time away without the kids is also vital to reenergizing the marriage, which in turn provides for a happy loving home for the kids.

Why are fathers important? Fathers are important because kids need balance and both a masculine and feminine influence. My wife is super neat, and cleans things before they can even get dirty. I like to let my kids get dirty in the park, and they will come home with mud all over their clothes and ice cream all over their faces. Also, my wife can’t ride a bike, and my daughter and I are currently bonding over the bike learning process.

Career, marriage, kids … how does a guy stay sane? In addition, I practice what I preach to my patients about exercise. I try to get to the gym at least 3 days a week, and find that this is the best way to keep my sanity with the juggling act that I described above with work and family.

When should I start talking to my kids about drugs and alcohol?

Our Daddy MD Guide’s reply: Parents sometimes ask me when to start talking to their kids about drugs and alcohol, since they know I help a lot of people with those problems. I tell them it is never too early to start modeling responsible behavior, and start talking to kids as early as six about the dangers of smoking and drinking. I do have patients who have addiction issues who have kids, and I do everything I can to help them get in to treatment to be a better parent and help prevent their children from going down the same path. It is impossible to be a good parent while struggling with addiction, so this is one of my highest priorities as an addiction specialist.

Just as an addicted parent cannot be present for their kids, neither can a dad be present who is getting constantly bombarded with emails and text messages from patients. I am still learning that sometimes I just have to put the phone down, and listen to what my kids have to say. After all, they can teach you as much as you can teach them.

— Damon Raskin, MD, is the father of two children. He is board-certified in internal medicine and has had a busy private practice in Pacific Palisades, California, since 1996. He also practices addiction medicine at the renowned Cliffside Malibu Residential Treatment Center in Malibu. He is on staff at St John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica and is medical director of Fireside Convalescent Hospital in Santa Monica, where he treats many geriatric patients.

Original Article

Dr. Damon Raskin

Why Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway Got the Flu and You Didn’t

Why Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway Got the Flu and You Didn’t

Why do so many stars have the flu right now? Don’t they have better docs and meds than the rest of us?
–Alien Face, via Twitter

You speak of Jennifer Lawrence, who made the flu her personal bitch during the Golden Globes. There was also, of course, Meryl Streep, whose flu was revealed via an Amy Poehler joke; and Hugh Jackman, whose particular strain of flu has an amazing singing voice. (It also leaped into the lungs of Anne Hathaway.)

Yep, stars do get better medical treatment compared with most of the rest of us, what with on-set doctors available 24-7 and B-12 shots on demand. But does that give them an advantage over this season’s epidemic? Oh, you might be surprised.

“They’re actually more vulnerable to the flu than the average person,” child-actor-turned internist Dr. Damon Raskin tells me. “It’s a matter of being in contact with so many people.”

That’s right. According to doctors with a celebrity clientele, it’s actually a small wonder that more actors aren’t laid up with this season’s infamous sickness this month–because of the sheer number of flunkies, handlers, fans, reporters and glam squads they have surrounding them during every waking moment.

Yes celebrities have had an easier time accessing flu shots, and, increasingly, producers are insisting their stars get immunized against the flu before taking a gig this year.

But several other factors trump those advantages, making the average star more likely to get the flu than you, says Dr. Max Lebow, who sees plenty of celebrities through his practice at Reliant Immediate Care near the Los Angeles International Airport.

“This year’s flu vaccine isn’t quite so effective as it has been in years past,” he points out, calling this current batch only “moderately effective” with about a 60 percent chance of working.

Plus, Lebow adds, “the only way to really defeat the flu is if your immune system gets fired up enough to defeat it,” and right now, stars’ immune systems are constantly being challenged: Think jet lag, lack of sleep, dehydration, red-carpet diets, extra-long work hours, awards-season stress and other factors particular to Hollywood in mid-January.

And oh: Those B-12 energy shots that the stars love? “Worthless” when it comes to the flu, Lebow says.

Maybe it’s not so bad being a civilian after all.

Original Article

Dr. Damon Raskin

Doctors Dish to TheBlaze on Bloomberg’s New Rule Limiting Painkillers in the ER: ‘Ridiculous’

Doctors Dish to TheBlaze on Bloomberg’s New Rule Limiting Painkillers in the ER: ‘Ridiculous’

Last week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that public hospitals in New York City would adopt his new guidelines that restrict emergency room doctors from dishing out opiate painkillers in an effort to curb abuse. But just what do medical professionals have to say about this?

“The fact that Mayor Bloomberg is suggesting that hospitals limit supplies of prescription pain killers in ERs is ridiculous,” Dr. Damon Raskin, a board certified internist and addiction specialist who works with Cliffside Malibu Treatment Center, said in an email to TheBlaze. “Limiting opiate prescriptions will not change the drug problem and only cause problems with the patients who really need them.”

And that was a common theme among the medical professionals we spoke to.

The problem

A report by the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control says prescription painkillers accounted for 20,044 of 26,450 overdose deaths in 2008, more than those from heroine or cocaine combined. DrugFree.org pointed out that 70 percent of people who were abusing prescription drugs got them from a relative or friend.

Map shows an AP analysis of Drug Enforcement Administration data highlighting the increased use of the addictive pain killer oxycodone across the U.S. from 2000 to 2010.

According to the press release from Bloomberg’s office, the rate of opioid painkiller-related emergency room visits nearly tripled in the city between 2004 and 2010.

The new guidelines will be used in all of New York City’s public hospitals. Specifically, the guidelines prevent emergency departments from prescribing long-acting opioid painkillers, like oxycodone, fentanyl patches and methadone. Doctors will be able to prescribe up to a three-day supply of opioids but will not refill lost, stolen or destroyed prescriptions.

“Prescription opioid painkillers can be just as dangerous as illegal drugs,” Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said in a statement. “These new guidelines will help reduce prescription drug misuse while also making sure that patients coming to emergency departments have access to safe and appropriate pain relief options.”

Is government intervention needed?

Dr. Joshua Kugler, the chief medical officer and former chairman of the emergency services department at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Long Island, New York, said he agrees with Bloomberg’s efforts and called it a “necessary evil.”

“I applaud the concept, the philosophy behind it,” Kugler said to TheBlaze in a phone interview. “But also am cautiously optimistic about how this will truly affect patient care.”

Still, Kugler noted that there might be times when the guidelines could leave a legitimate patient in considerable pain. He said, for example, if a patient lost a prescription on a Friday evening after their doctor had gone for the weekend, they could be out of luck until Monday.

He added that although similar guidelines wouldn’t necessarily infringe upon how he or his department practices medicine, he does believe physicians need to have the ability to address patient care on a case-by-case basis.

Dr. Alex Kudisch, the chief medical officer at the Texas-based Origins Recovery Centers, expounded on this sentiment in an email to TheBlaze saying that “medicine must heal itself and without government intervention.”

“Yes, the Oxy for a toothache mentality must end, but the medical community will lose its rights to perform medicine if government intervenes,” Kudisch continued.

And what about the doctor’s roll in providing the drugs in the first place potentially contributing to the problem itself? Glenn Beck earlier this week said that if doctors providing the drugs can’t tell the difference between real pain and a drug addict, “then we have a problem with the doctors.”

Dr. Michael Michael with a rehabilitation clinic in Michigan told TheBlaze in a phone interview that for a long time physicians themselves didn’t do a good enough job managing patients’ use of the drug.

“A lot of it has to do with options — what options the doctor had at managing a patient’s pain,” Michael said, noting that even short term use of opiates as a painkiller is associated with an addiction risk.

He called opiates the “be-all-end-all in pain relief,” but noted there are other treatments now that doctors can use to avoid the drug completely.

“We’ve become better educated about it and are doing better at managing it, but are still not doing well enough,” he said.

Watch Beck share his thoughts regarding Bloomberg’s guidelines and the mayor’s comment that people using the ER as their source of primary care might have to “suffer a little bit”:

Treating the addiction

While Michael, who works specifically with patients suffering from addiction, agrees that something needs to be done to help curb the problem in the short term and that Bloomberg’s guidelines might cut down on overdose situations, he told TheBlaze that he doesn’t think it will have a significant, long-lasting effect.

Why? Because treatment of the addition is more than just cutting off the source. Part of the problem is the treatment in and of itself. Michael said the most popular way to wean an opiate addict off the drug is to put them on another, more controlled opiate, which would then be reduced over time. Although Michael said he respects those who provide this type of treatment, he said it’s not only painful for the addict but also not entirely effective as it often leads them to become addicted to this other opiate.

As a doctor at the Eagle Advancement Institute, Michael takes a different, 100-percent non-opiate approach at treating patients. In fact, the Clarity Detox Program was named one of the top five technologies to reduce prescription drug abuse by the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence.

Michael said four out of five patients going through their program are successful at overcoming their addiction.

And even if addiction is being addressed, what is to be done about overdoses, which are still bound to occur? Kugler pointed out that Naloxone, an injectable drug used to reverse opiate overdoses, is being distributed to sources beyond emergency responders. New York and a few other states have programs expanding the distribution of Naloxone kits. Reuters reported on a study last year that found it would be life-saving and cost-effective to put the Naloxone kits directly in the hands of known heroine users.

Overall though, Kugler said stifling the problem goes all they way back to parents and schools having a real dialogue with children about the risks associated with prescription narcotics.

In other words, personal responsibility is just what the doctor ordered.

Orignal Article

Cliffside Malibu

Dr. Damon Raskin

Lance Armstrong Doping Scandal: Long-term abuse of anabolic steroids can definitely increase the risk of cancer, says expert

Lance Armstrong Doping Scandal: Long-term abuse of anabolic steroids can definitely increase the risk of cancer, says expert

On Thursday (and Friday) the world will finally hear the truth for once come out of Lance Armstrong’s mouth as he reveals all to Oprah Winfrey.

A new reports from USA Today suggests the disgraced cyclist will admit he started using performance-enhancing drugs to gain an edge in cycling in the mid-1990s, before he was diagnosed with cancer.

On Tuesday’s “The View”, Whoopi Goldberg got into a heated debate with Barbara Walters when she questioned the correlation between steroid use and cancer. [In Oct. 1996, Armstrong  was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his brain and lung]

“I don’t know but the question really is: Do the steroids cause cancer? That’s the question. Did he get the cancer because of the steroids? That’s what we need to know,” Goldberg asked.

And it is a good question to ask.

In preparation of Armstrong’s no holds barred interview with Oprah, Dr. Damon Raskin, a board certified internist Los Angeles and men’s health specialist, has spoken to Celebzter about the effects of steroids and blood doping.  Dr. Raskin in the supervising MD for Ageless Men’s Health, a nationwide facility dealing with men’s health and anti-aging issues and he has worked with many patients who have long-term steroid usage.

“Long term abuse of anabolic steroids can definitely increase the risk of cancer, (it is unclear whether this many have been a contributing factor to his testicular cancer) as well as atherosclerosis (increased plaque in arteries and risk of heart attacks and strokes), and lower the good cholesterol in the body (HDL),” Dr Raskin explains.  “Steroids can also contribute to higher blood pressure, acne, and aggressive behavior.”

He adds: “In addition, blood doping, which involves blood transfusions and/or taking a hormone called eryrthropoetin which increases red blood cells and thus more oxygen to muscles, can also lead to strokes by making the blood too thick.”

We also asked Dr. Raskin about what the long-term ramifications on Armstrong’s body will be after prolonged use of steroids and blood doping.

“Long term, doping can lead to structural changes in the heart which could  lead to increased risks of heart attacks, heart failure and stroke.” he says. “High blood pressure, low amounts of HDL (good cholesterol), acne, infertility, and possibly prostate cancer are also major risks.”

And what happens when you suddenly stop taking steroids after years of abuse?

“When someone suddenly stops taking steroids after prolonged use, they may experience mood swings, depression and anxiety, muscle and joint pain, and insomnia. For men, the steroid abuser has turned off his own body’s making of testosterone, so a sudden withdrawal will also lead to lack of sex drive,” Dr. Raskin explains.

Interestingly, Livestrong also has an article about the long-term effects of doping.

And at least one board member of Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation said he feels betrayed by Armstrong’s years of deceit. “Yes, I do. And I think he’s got a lot of apologies,” Mark McKinnon said in a CNN interview.

Perhaps, Armstrong should have named his organization “Liestrong”.

Original Article

Cliffside Malibu

Dr. Damon Raskin

Lance Armstrong Doping Scandal: Long-term abuse of anabolic steroids can definitely increase the risk of cancer, says expert

Lance Armstrong Doping Scandal: Long-term abuse of anabolic steroids can definitely increase the risk of cancer, says expert

On Thursday (and Friday) the world will finally hear the truth for once come out of Lance Armstrong’s mouth as he reveals all to Oprah Winfrey.

A new reports from USA Today suggests the disgraced cyclist will admit he started using performance-enhancing drugs to gain an edge in cycling in the mid-1990s, before he was diagnosed with cancer.

On Tuesday’s “The View”, Whoopi Goldberg got into a heated debate with Barbara Walters when she questioned the correlation between steroid use and cancer. [In Oct. 1996, Armstrong  was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his brain and lung]

“I don’t know but the question really is: Do the steroids cause cancer? That’s the question. Did he get the cancer because of the steroids? That’s what we need to know,” Goldberg asked.

And it is a good question to ask.

In preparation of Armstrong’s no holds barred interview with Oprah, Dr. Damon Raskin, a board certified internist Los Angeles and men’s health specialist, has spoken to Celebzter about the effects of steroids and blood doping.  Dr. Raskin in the supervising MD for Ageless Men’s Health, a nationwide facility dealing with men’s health and anti-aging issues and he has worked with many patients who have long-term steroid usage.

“Long term abuse of anabolic steroids can definitely increase the risk of cancer, (it is unclear whether this many have been a contributing factor to his testicular cancer) as well as atherosclerosis (increased plaque in arteries and risk of heart attacks and strokes), and lower the good cholesterol in the body (HDL),” Dr Raskin explains.  “Steroids can also contribute to higher blood pressure, acne, and aggressive behavior.”

He adds: “In addition, blood doping, which involves blood transfusions and/or taking a hormone called eryrthropoetin which increases red blood cells and thus more oxygen to muscles, can also lead to strokes by making the blood too thick.”

We also asked Dr. Raskin about what the long-term ramifications on Armstrong’s body will be after prolonged use of steroids and blood doping.

“Long term, doping can lead to structural changes in the heart which could  lead to increased risks of heart attacks, heart failure and stroke.” he says. “High blood pressure, low amounts of HDL (good cholesterol), acne, infertility, and possibly prostate cancer are also major risks.”

And what happens when you suddenly stop taking steroids after years of abuse?

“When someone suddenly stops taking steroids after prolonged use, they may experience mood swings, depression and anxiety, muscle and joint pain, and insomnia. For men, the steroid abuser has turned off his own body’s making of testosterone, so a sudden withdrawal will also lead to lack of sex drive,” Dr. Raskin explains.

Interestingly, Livestrong also has an article about the long-term effects of doping.

And at least one board member of Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation said he feels betrayed by Armstrong’s years of deceit. “Yes, I do. And I think he’s got a lot of apologies,” Mark McKinnon said in a CNN interview.

Perhaps, Armstrong should have named his organization “Liestrong”.

Original Article

Cliffside Malibu

Dr. Damon Raskin

Paying for an open medical door

January 10, 2012

Paying for an open medical door

Michael Campagna finally had enough of the jammed waiting room at the orthopedic surgeon’s office, the rapid-fire exams once he got in and the lack of results with his chronic ankle and knee problems. He’d gone 25 years without health insurance, got it shortly before a motorcycle accident, then wondered why he’d bothered.

“It was a nightmare,” he said of the three-month regimen of twice monthly visits in Alexandria, Virginia. So he entered a small but fast-growing segment of American health care, paying US$1500 a year to see a doctor who offers a “personalized” approach known as concierge medicine.

Now the waiting room he visits has two chairs, one for him and another empty. Instead of seven minutes with the doctor, he gets at least 30, plus email consultations day and night, an annual physical lasting 2.5 hours, appointments within 24 hours, follow-up when he’s referred to a specialist and an intense focus on preventive care. “It’s like old times,” says Campagna, in his mid-60s, “when the family knew the doctor and we had house calls. … This allows a doctor to be a good doctor. It unleashes the inner doctor.”

The personalized approach is variously known as direct care or retainer-based, membership or even cash-only medicine, and involves a “direct” financial relationship between a patient and a physician in the form of an annual or monthly fee. It’s typically charged for some manner of additional care in addition to the fees charged for the normal procedures that are provided. Some providers of concierge medicine do not accept insurance of any manner, whether private or from the government under the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs for the elderly and poor respectively. They’re cash-only (or cheque or credit card) but are still considered concierge if they charge a monthly or annual fee, instead of, or in addition to, the fees they charge for each medical procedure they perform. Most providers of concierge medicine, however, accept insurance. But the fee for retaining the concierge doctor comes out of the patient’s pocket.

For patients, the appeal is more ready access, while for physicians, the lure appears to be a lighter workload. A Congressional advisory committee found that the number of concierge physicians had risen fivefold between 2005 and 2010 to more than 750. Those doctors were serving 100 to 425 patients each, down from more than 2000 they saw while working in a traditional practice. Most were internal medicine specialists or family physicians

Many fear the growth of concierge medicine, should it continue apace, will exacerbate the growth of a two-tiered system under which attentive physicians delivering quality care are available primarily to the well-heeled. But proponents argue that it was ever thus and that concierge medicine is increasingly becoming more affordable to the middle class, even if it does constitute a substantial hit on their wallets.

Although annual fees are increasingly being charged by Canadian physicians, they are typically for services not covered by Medicare plans, such as providing proof of a visit to the doctor’s office or providing an expert opinion Some Canadian physicians now charge an annual administration (block) fee that covers immunizations, completion of medical forms, photocopying of files and returning calls.

The growth of concierge medicine in the United States has left the chairman of the MedPAC advisory committee, Glenn Hackbarth, fretting about the potential impact on access to primary care for the average American. Many doctors could bail from Medicare completely in favour of a concierge practice, he once told a public hearing . “There’s too much money to pass up,” he said. And the result could be a “dramatic erosion in access in a very short period of time” in traditional care, particularly Medicare. “So that’s my nightmare.”

Critics of concierge medicine say that it’s essentially a cash grab by physicians, who are being paid a hefty premium to do the job they are supposed to do anyway.

But advocates say that it’s not quite so cut and dried, particularly when it comes to physician workloads. As the population ages and President Barack Obama’s health care reforms expand access to care for millions more people, practitioners are racing to keep up and sometimes getting burned out. Exasperated by rising costs and complex regulations, physicians appear to be abandoning private practice in droves, with many opting to work for hospitals or large networks instead.

Among those left in traditional care, concierge medicine has become very tempting. “As the doctor shortage worsens, you see family docs step out and go into concierge medicine,” says Dr. Doug Pittman, a family and sports medicine practitioner in Whitefish, Montana, in the heart of ski country five hours south of Calgary, Alberta. “It’s the closest thing to a primary doctor strike. We are withdrawing because we can’t get paid for what we do, and our patients are going to outlive us because we are killing ourselves to try to keep up.”

Pittman switched to concierge medicine in 2009 after family practice left him stressed and bored. “All I was doing was putting out fires.” Instead of seeing 25 patients daily, he’s limited his practice to 100 patients overall. He charges each $1900 for a year’s services. Married couples get a discount ($3400), while snowbirds who are gone for the winter pay $1300 apiece or $2500 per couple. Pittman also throws in “scholarships” to cut the fee to $1100 for some older patients, teachers and folks who work on the mountain.

Instead of seeing patients for eight minutes, each now gets 80 minutes, he says. “You have control of everything. I answer the phone, take out the garbage. No matter where I am, they can get a hold of me.”

“It restores a physician’s independence, and you get paid an equitable wage for what you’re doing, preventing illness. It allowed me to pursue the type of medicine that I did the first 10 or so years.”

It also results in improved care, says Dr. Floyd Russak, an internal and geriatric physician in Denver, Colorado, who runs a personalized practice limited to 300 patients paying $1000 to $1500 annually. Russak had been seeing 30 to 40 patients a day and decided to “get off the hamster wheel” in 2010 because he felt he wasn’t “doing an exceptionally good job with any of them.”

His clients now get a half hour of his time during a routine visit and round-the-clock access. If they go to the hospital, so does Russak. “For patients that can afford it, it’s much better care,” he says.

There’s no question the care is improved, claims the California-based SignatureMD, a network of concierge practices involving 50 doctors in 14 states which was launched seven years ago. “The goal was to create a more direct relationship between patient and physician, a more direct financial relationship which facilitates better health care,” says CEO Matt Jacobson.

Is it elitist?

Not in Jacobson’s mind. “Should we send our kids to private school if that’s something we value?” he asks. “Some people put value on health care, and want to put investment in health care. We have a democratic society.”

For its part, the American Medical Association’s stance on concierge medicine is equivocal. On the one hand, it offers advice on establishing a concierge practice.  But its code of ethics suggests that the quality of care should not be dependent on a patient’s ability to pay extra fees .

“Physicians have a professional obligation to provide care to those in need, regardless of ability to pay, particularly to those in need of urgent care,” the code states. “Physicians who engage in retainer practices should seek specific opportunities to fulfill this obligation.”

Orignail Article

SignatureMD

Health trends 2013: Male ‘menopause’ comes out of the closet

Health trends 2013: Male ‘menopause’ comes out of the closet

Women have long dealt with menopause and all the variety of symptoms it can bring. But men go through that change of life experience too, it’s just not as evident because men do not menstruate.

Andropause – the “male menopause” – is finally coming out of the shadows of passages of life changes for men, and doctors are specializing in treating the male patient just as a gynecologist would treat a female patient, with hormone boosters, diet advice and exercise recommendations.

Andropause is a clinical syndrome seen in men, associated with advancing age and manifested with symptoms related to lowered testosterone (male hormone) levels.

Doctors are divided on how many men actually experience a noticeable condition, some ranges are from 12 per cent in men between 40 and 70 years of age and upward. These cases of andropause increase with diabetic or obese men.

Dr. Damon Raskin, a frequent contributor to Monsters and Critics, is an expert on the subject. He is the supervising doctor for Ageless Men’s Health, a nationwide facility dealing with men’s health and anti-aging issues.

Dr. Raskin is also a Los Angeles based Internist who also sub-specializes in addiction issues with prestigious residential rehabilitation facility, Cliffside Malibu.

As an internist, he is generally the first doctor that men will go to when they feel their health is off, including issues of sexuality.

Dr. Raskin sees symptoms that are directly due to a decline in testosterone levels. Testosterone declines at a rate of one per cent annually between the ages of 40 and 70 years. However, the decline may be seen earlier.

Testosterone has many beneficial effects in men (and women to a lesser extent) and this is not isolated to sexual functions only. It aids in memory and cognitive functioning. It regulates bone density and strength and reduces osteoporosis. It helps in the production of facial and body hair, maintains muscle mass and strength. It helps with production of red blood cells in the bone marrow so that men aren’t anemic and it is responsible for the sex drive and libido.

Testosterone loss through the natural aging process causes andropause to manifest with abnormalities of these functions.

Many men with andropause have reduced energy and motivation and express depressive symptoms. Typically, Dr. Raskin sees men who complain of reduced libido or sex drive and have diminished interest in sexual activity. They may notice that their erections are fewer and weaker. Some men notice a tenderness of the breast and loss of body or facial hair, and even hot flashes, similar to those seen in women in menopause. Weight gain and obesity may be associated with this condition.

Andropause can put men at risk for cardiovascular diseases such as a heart attacks. This is because of its association with obesity and high cholesterol and sugar levels. This is an area of great research interest.

Dr. Raskin says, “Andropause can be identified and treated. Men should not suffer in silence. Let your doctor know if you have any of the symptoms mentioned.”

The top five signs to look for are:

Decreased libido and decreased erectile function
Fatigue and loss of energy
Depressed or low mood
Decreased muscle mass/increase body fat and a loss of strength
A loss of body hair

“Andropause symptoms can include fatigue, low libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of body hair, decrease in muscle mass, and depression. But this condition can be treated with testosterone gels, patches or shots,” says Dr. Raskin.

Orignial Article

Cliffside Malibu

Dr. Damon Raskin

Living In Sobriety: Dealing With Clients Who are Addicted

January 8, 2013

Living In Sobriety: Dealing With Clients Who are Addicted

You have a client who has been charged with a drug-related offense. Is your client a full-blown addict, someone with a substance abuse problem, or an average person who made a minor mistake in judgment that could have some major consequences? It’s hard for a lawyer to know. There is no “test” for addiction like there is for the flu or high-blood pressure or diabetes. Yet, there is an evidence-base that provides information about substance abuse and addiction that could be useful to you and your clients – from what substance abuse and addiction are to the kinds of successful treatments that are available.

What is substance abuse and addiction?

Substance abuse can be described as a behavioral disorder. Persons with addictions (and those on their way to becoming addicts) abuse substances because they are in pain. A painful period or traumatic event has occurred that the addict does not have the resources to deal with.  S/he uses a substance and finds temporary relief from that pain.  When the effects of the substance wear off, the pain returns.  The individual uses again and again until substance use is habituated.  The combination of impacts on mind, body, and spirit has become so profound that the individual cannot break his/her habit.  This is the nature of addiction.

How do I know whether or not my client has an addiction?

The diagnosis of addiction is given based on a variety of behaviors and occurrences that an individual must in most cases self-report. Those who have worked with addicts know that usually only those who are on the brink of death are willing to accept that they have a problem.

However, there are two simple questions that you can ask to determine whether or not substance abuse or addiction is an issue for your client. 1) Have you ever missed an activity because you were too hung-over to attend? and 2) Has anyone in your life (spouse, parent, boss, child, friend, physician, etc.) ever suggested that you might drink/use drugs to excess?

Once I have determined that addiction or substance abuse is a problem for my client, what can I do to help him/her?

It is unlikely that your client will be able to recover on his/her own.  S/he will need treatment.  Hearing this will undoubtedly not go down well with your client. However, treatment can be the best gift your client can receive both for his/her health and the case s/he is facing.

The key to long-term addiction recovery is highly individualized, holistic treatment that is underpinned by intensive individual psychotherapy and addressing issues based on a person’s readiness to change.  To help them understand not only the nature of their problem, but that there is hope for recovery, they must be met at their individual level of readiness to change. Cliffside Malibu uses the “Stages of Change” model to help someone struggling with addiction know that s/he has a problem and believe that there is hope of recovery.  Once that is accomplished, intensive one-on-one psychotherapy combined with holistic (mind-body-spirit) interventions are used together to help addicts face the root cause of their pain and give them tools for moving through that pain.

What is the Stages of Change model?  Why is an integrated approach to treatment so effective?

It suggests that life-change occurs in predictable stages.  By understanding a client’s readiness and willingness to change, we can employ specific interventions to help the addict find the fortitude to face the problems of his past. By doing this in a safe, supportive environment with a dedicated therapist, the addict can work through his issues and learn the skills s/he needs to meet life’s challenges sober.  This is a complete life transformation in which using drugs or alcohol simply becomes unnecessary.

It is estimated that 83% of those who leave treatment are using again within a year. This failure is because most treatment programs do not provide a holistic, integrated approach to treatment. People with addiction illness have deficiencies and problems on the levels of mind, body, and spirit.  They must be given the physical support (nutrition, rest, exercise, yoga, orthomolecular medicine, acupuncture, massage, etc.) to get their bodies to a state of good health, the psychological support (intensive one-on-one therapy with a loving therapist, small group work, family therapy, etc.) and spiritual support (life coaching, meditation training, access to clergy) to change the path on which s/he is traveling.  It is only with this kind of intensive support using a team of professionals in a safe, secure environment that addicts transcend their addictions with ease.

Does Cliffside Malibu work with attorneys or the courts?

Yes. Our policy is to work hand-in-hand with criminal attorneys to get the best possible outcomes for our clientele with respect to sentencing, etc.  If an attorney asks or requests, we have our clinical director give testimony on behalf of clients.

Richard Taite, CEO and Constance Scharff, PhD, of the Cliffside Malibu treatment center in Malibu, California, have written a new book that describes what addiction is and how it can be overcome for good.  The book is titled “Ending Addiction for Good” and can be purchased at Amazon.com or any major book retailer in both paperback and electronic versions.

Orignal Article

Cliffside Malibu