The real cost of tomorrow’s health care is largely driven by decisions we make today. Although many conditions strike us somewhat randomly, many others are brought on or are exacerbated by lifestyle decisions we make. Moreover, our risks for other conditions are often genetic- or age-related and, therefore, can be caught early through screening. The guy in the Pilot’s seat should be YOU!
The table below shows that almost half of the deaths in the U. S. in 2000, were related to risks we largely control.
| Actual Causes of Death in the United States in 20001 |
| Cause |
Estimated number of deaths |
Percent of total deaths |
| Tobacco |
435,000 |
18 |
| Diet/Activity Patterns |
400,000 |
17 |
| Alcohol |
85,000 |
4 |
| Microbial Agents |
75,000 |
3 |
| Toxic Agents |
55,000 |
2 |
| Motor Vehicles |
43,000 |
2 |
| Firearms |
29,000 |
1 |
| Sexual Behavior |
20,000 |
1 |
| Illicit Use of Drugs |
17,000 |
<1 |
| Total |
1,159,000 |
49 |
| 1 Meeting the Challenge of Chronic Illness, Robert L. Kane M.D., Reinhard Priester J.D., Annette M. Totten PhD, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005, pp.167. |
PDQ Care offers the following preventive health tests: cholesterol and other lipid testing, carotid artery, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), abdominal aorta and pulmonary function. Furthermore, our professionals can help you to build a personal medical history and a family history which can be useful in determining the type and frequency of preventive health tests which are likely to be most beneficial to your health status. We also offer flu shots and other commonly required vaccinations.
As an enrollee at PDQ Care, you will have access to an extensive data base of medical information written in laymen’s’ language, in English and Spanish. This information is available through our patient portal and accessible at all our locations. Our professionals are available to help you with research and, if necessary, to understand how the information relates to your health circumstances.
When you come to PDQ Care for tests, we establish a personal health record (PHR-To-Go™) which can store the results of such tests and, where appropriate, allow you and your physicians to see these test values trended over time. Your personal health record (PHR) is maintained securely online and can be made available for your review and only you can make it available to others.
Should you come to PDQ Care with a condition we cannot properly treat, we will refer you to another caregiver. In many cases, we can help you to make an appointment and, if appropriate, put you in touch with another professional right from our facility.
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