Banner Blue News                 

AA publication of  Wabash Memorial Hospital Association - Est 1884

  Spring Edition                                                              March ~ 2007

_______________________________________________________________

                                        Information Update

At the February Board Meeting, the Board of Managers determined that all parents and parents-in-law of

any Wabash member are eligible for benefits.  This 80/20 primary coverage is provided in Plan 15

 for $368 per month.  If parents are of Medicare age, secondary coverage is available through Plan 10

for $121 per month. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                     Signalmen at Wabash

Members of BRS Local 55 held their quarterly meeting

on Saturday, February 24th in the Wabash Board Room. 

Featured guests were General Chairman, Mr. Kurt

Mullins, and Grand Lodge Secretary /

Treasurer, Mr. Walt Barrows, by conference call.         

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                               Identity Protection

In an ongoing effort to better serve our members, new drug cards are being designed by EHO to better protect our Wabash members from ID theft.  Social Security numbers will no longer be shown and a personal identifier will be used instead.  In the next few months, you will receive your card - be sure to present it each time you visit your pharmacist.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                  Patient Protection

A recent study reports that more than 1.5 million Americans are killed or injured every year by drug errors in hospitals, nursing homes and doctor's offices - and this does not count patient's own medication mix-ups.  This study panel estimated that drug errors cause at least 530,000 preventable injuries and deaths among Medicare recipients treated in outpatient clinics.  University of Arizona pharmacy dean, J. Lyle Bootman, who chaired the study advises consumers to be aggressive in questioning doctors, nurses and pharmacists about their medications, whether they're watching over a loved one or figuring out their own pills at home.  Medication errors are blamed on uncoordinated multi-drug therapies, doctor's bad handwriting, similar drug names, hospital mix-ups and inadequate consumer instructions.  We recommend that our members help protect themselves by:  Asking questions; telling each physician everything you are taking; annually bring all of your medicines and supplements to your doctor; report allergies or reactions and ask for information in terms you comprehend.  When you pick up a prescription:  Verify the medication; Ask questions about the medicine or directions; and request written information about the side effects the medication could cause.  ~ Tom Curb, EHO