Employee Assistance Programs

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Human Resources

Unions/Associations

Other Resources for Patients

Prepared Patient 411

Rick Daniel, 49, is an application engineer with Rohde & Schwarz, Inc., which develops and manufactures electronic instrumentation.  In December 2005, he was working at the company’s Dallas branch office.  He was at home on the weekend when an aneurysm —hidden in his brain — ruptured.

Daniel was airlifted to Baylor Medical Center and spent two weeks in the ICU after the massive hemorrhage. 

Meanwhile, his workplace was responding.

“My company allows people to donate vacation time,” he says.  “It was great for my family; my wife didn’t have to worry about paychecks.”  He and his family received “a lot of concern, nothing but support,” from the proactive human resources director, who solicited leave donations from his willing coworkers.

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Health Care Consumers: Are We a Nation of Savvy Shoppers?

As the term "health care consumer" gains traction, I have been thinking about the skills we are assumed to possess as Americans who regularly buy stuff -- skills that many employers and benefits consultants believe can be easily applied to decisions about purchasing health care services, tests  and drugs.

Think about it: to be an effective, engaged health care consumer in the U.S. today means that many of us must find and make use of information that enables us to:

• choose the most appropriate health plan for our family
• select the best and cheapest radiology practice or laboratory
• identify the Part D pharmacy benefit plan that meets our needs this year
• make cost, quality and safety trade-offs for the hospital we patronize
• manage our employer's offer of a health savings account combined with catastrophic insurance coverage

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