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Health How-To, March 2012

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AFTER HOURS CLINIC Evening and Saturday Hours For Your Healthcare Alegent Health Logan Clinic 122 West 8th St. Logan, Iowa, 51546 (712) 644-3288 Alegent Health Missouri Valley Clinic Located in Hospital Missouri Valley,Iowa 51555 (712) 642-2794 Alegent Health Woodbine Clinic Woodbine, Iowa 51579 (712) 647-2566 Alegent Health Dunlap Clinic 707 Iowa Ave. Dunlap, Iowa 51529 (712) 643-2298 AFTER HOURS CLINIC HOSPITAL LOCATION 631 N. 8th St., Missouri Valley HOURS: Monday- Friday 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 712-642-2784 Sooner or later every- one gets sick, so sooner or later everyone needs a doctor. But finding the right physician is not always easy. Since people require different things from their physicians, it’s difficult to provide blan- ket guidelines to find a good doctor. But there are some basic tips everyone can find useful. BASIC TIPS A good first step is to ask friends and family members who have had good experiences with a physician. Second, contact clin- ics and hospitals in your area. A good doctor is a combination of someone with good medical skills and good interpersonal skills the patient can relate to. The best way to find out if a doctor has these qualities is to ask questions: • Where did the doc- tor go to school? • Where did they do their residency? • Where did they intern? • Is the doctor board- certified in his or her area of specialization? • Patients should ask about after-hours cover- age. Who handles it and how is it done? Another important question is how often the doctor wants to see the patient. Do they want to see the patient on a regular basis or just when they are sick? Preventive health servic- es can be important to some patients. Does the doctor pro- vide screening exams, immunizations and other such services? What about office hours? Is the doctor’s office open in the evenings or on week- ends? How does the doc- tor’s office handle sched- uling? What other serv- ices does the clinic offer? At what hospital is the physician on staff? Many of these ques- tions have no right or wrong answers. It just depends on what fits the patient’s needs. BE HONEST Patients should be upfront about what they are looking for in a physician and ask ques- tions to find out if the doctor they are seeing will fit their needs. Sometimes it may take several visits to different doctors to find one that a patient can relate to and feels comfortable with. If a doctor is inattentive, doesn’t get along with the patient or the patient is uncomfortable talking with the physician, they may want to seek anoth- er doctor. STAFF IS IMPORTANT, TOO A doctor’s staff can be a reflection upon the physician. For example, a good doctor should have a staff member explain why a patient has to wait a long time. Patients, in turn, need to be patient because emer- gencies can happen. The next time the emergency could involve the patient that once had to wait. Finally, payment for medical services must be considered. Patients need to make sure doc- tors they are looking at take their insurance. If patients don’t have insurance, they need to make sure they can reach a payment arrangement with the doctor. Finding a good doctor is not an easy task. The right rela- tionship between a doc- tor and a patient is dif- ferent for every person. The task is further complicated by the fact many people don’t regu- larly see a doctor. Patients need to do their part to help doctors in the relationship. THE INITIAL VISIT When seeing a new physician, a patient should bring any med- ication they are taking and should be able to put in writing why they are taking the drugs. Patients should also know any medications to which they are allergic, and the nature of the allergic reaction. They should also be prepared to give the doc- tor a good personal med- ical history. The history should include any past or present chronic con- ditions, any family histo- ry of diseases such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease and a list of sur- geries the patient has had. Patients may also want to write down any questions they want to ask the physician. Despite the difficul- ties, finding the right doctor can increase the length and quality of a patient’s life. IMPORTANT POINTS • Get references from family and friends. • Ask questions. • Be up-front about what you are looking for. • A doctor’s staff can be a reflection on the physician. • Payment for med- ical services must be considered. QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT • What doctors are covered by your insur- ance? • What are the doc- tor’s qualifications? • Do you and the doc- tor communicate well? • Can this doctor pro- vide what you require from your primary care physician? ... choose a physician March 21, 2012 1 Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide EVERYONE EVENTUALLY GETS SICK How to . . . 518 Lincoln Way St.
Transcript
Page 1: Health How-To, March 2012

AFTER HOURS CLINICEvening and Saturday Hours For Your Healthcare

This is your healthcare

Alegent HealthLogan Clinic

122 West 8th St.Logan, Iowa,

51546(712) 644-3288

Alegent HealthMissouri Valley

ClinicLocated in HospitalMissouri Valley,Iowa

51555(712) 642-2794

Alegent HealthWoodbine Clinic

410 Ely StreetWoodbine, Iowa

51579(712) 647-2566

Alegent HealthDunlap Clinic

707 Iowa Ave.Dunlap, Iowa

51529(712) 643-2298

AFTER HOURS CLINICHOSPITAL LOCATION

631 N. 8th St., Missouri Valley

HOURS:Monday- Friday 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

712-642-2784

Sooner or later every-one gets sick, so sooneror later everyone needs adoctor. But finding theright physician is notalways easy. Since peoplerequire different thingsfrom their physicians, it’sdifficult to provide blan-ket guidelines to find agood doctor. But thereare some basic tipseveryone can find useful.

BASIC TIPSA good first step is to

ask friends and familymembers who have hadgood experiences with aphysician.

Second, contact clin-ics and hospitals in yourarea. A good doctor is acombination of someonewith good medical skillsand good interpersonalskills the patient canrelate to. The best way tofind out if a doctor hasthese qualities is to askquestions:

• Where did the doc-tor go to school?

• Where did they dotheir residency?

• Where did theyintern?

• Is the doctor board-certified in his or herarea of specialization?

• Patients should askabout after-hours cover-age. Who handles it andhow is it done?

Another importantquestion is how oftenthe doctor wants to seethe patient. Do theywant to see the patienton a regular basis or justwhen they are sick?Preventive health servic-es can be important tosome patients.

Does the doctor pro-vide screening exams,immunizations and

other such services?What about officehours? Is the doctor’soffice open in theevenings or on week-ends? How does the doc-tor’s office handle sched-uling? What other serv-ices does the clinic offer?At what hospital is thephysician on staff?

Many of these ques-tions have no right orwrong answers. It justdepends on what fits thepatient’s needs.

BE HONESTPatients should be

upfront about what theyare looking for in aphysician and ask ques-tions to find out if thedoctor they are seeingwill fit their needs.Sometimes it may takeseveral visits to differentdoctors to find one that apatient can relate to andfeels comfortable with. Ifa doctor is inattentive,doesn’t get along withthe patient or the patientis uncomfortable talking

with the physician, theymay want to seek anoth-er doctor.

STAFF IS IMPORTANT, TOOA doctor’s staff can be

a reflection upon thephysician. For example,a good doctor shouldhave a staff memberexplain why a patienthas to wait a long time.Patients, in turn, need tobe patient because emer-gencies can happen. Thenext time the emergencycould involve the patientthat once had to wait.Finally, payment formedical services must beconsidered. Patientsneed to make sure doc-tors they are looking attake their insurance. Ifpatients don’t haveinsurance, they need tomake sure they can reacha payment arrangementwith the doctor. Findinga good doctor is not aneasy task. The right rela-tionship between a doc-tor and a patient is dif-

ferent for every person.The task is further

complicated by the factmany people don’t regu-larly see a doctor.Patients need to do theirpart to help doctors inthe relationship.

THE INITIAL VISITWhen seeing a new

physician, a patientshould bring any med-ication they are takingand should be able toput in writing why theyare taking the drugs.

Patients should alsoknow any medications towhich they are allergic,and the nature of theallergic reaction.

They should also beprepared to give the doc-tor a good personal med-ical history. The historyshould include any pastor present chronic con-ditions, any family histo-ry of diseases such asdiabetes, cancer or heartdisease and a list of sur-geries the patient hashad. Patients may also

want to write down anyquestions they want toask the physician.

Despite the difficul-ties, finding the rightdoctor can increase thelength and quality of apatient’s life.IMPORTANT POINTS

• Get references fromfamily and friends.

• Ask questions.• Be up-front about

what you are looking for.• A doctor’s staff can

be a reflection on thephysician.

• Payment for med-ical services must beconsidered.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

• What doctors arecovered by your insur-ance?

• What are the doc-tor’s qualifications?

• Do you and the doc-tor communicate well?

• Can this doctor pro-vide what you requirefrom your primary carephysician?

... choose a physicianMarch 21, 2012 1Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide

EEVVEERRYYOONNEEEEVVEENNTTUUAALLLLYYGGEETTSS SSIICCKK

Ho

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518 Lincoln Way St.

Page 2: Health How-To, March 2012

WOODBINE423 Walker Street712-647-2840

LOGAN103 North 4th Ave.712-644-2160

SSttoorree HHoouurrss MMoonn.. -- FFrrii..

88::0000 aa..mm.. ttoo 55::3300 pp..mm..SSaattuurrddaayy

88::0000 aa..mm.. ttoo NNoooonn

SSttoorree HHoouurrss MMoonn.. -- FFrrii..

88::3300 aa..mm.. ttoo 55::3300 pp..mm..SSaattuurrddaayy

88::3300 aa..mm.. ttoo NNoooonn

BBoobb EEbbyyWWooooddbbiinnee

SStteevvee EEbbyyLLooggaann

EBYDRUG STORE

SSUUNNDDAAYY,, MMAAYY 88EASTER SUNDAYAPRIL 24

• Russell Stover Candy• Gifts & Collectibles

• Easter Cards• Mother’s Day Cards

• Graduation Cards

More Than A PharmacyTwo Convenient

Locations

If you’re like mostpeople, you did notchoose a pharmacist,you chose a pharmacyfor your medicationneeds. Your pharmacistis an important part ofyour health care teamand should be chosencarefully. In betweendoctor visits, your phar-macist can be an impor-tant resource for you.This is especially true ifyou are using multiplemedications or needhelp with products suchas blood glucose meters,asthma inhalers, or otherspecial care items.

Some key questionsto ask when choosing apharmacist include:

• Does the pharma-cist take time to answeryour questions in a man-ner that you under-stand?

• Does the pharma-cist tell you about eachnew medication andexplain such things ashow and when to take

the medication and whatyou can and cannot takewith it?

• Does the pharma-cist have any specialtraining in disease man-agement, such as a certi-fied asthma counselor?

• Does the pharma-cist show concern foryou and your family?

• Does the pharma-cist recommend vita-mins or supplements totake or tell you whichones you should NOTtake with your prescrip-tions?

If your current phar-macist does not meetyour needs or does nottake the necessary timeto make sure you under-stand your medications,visit other pharmaciesand ask if the pharmacisthas any special certifica-tions or training. Findout if the pharmacy hasany special services theycan offer you such asdemonstrating a newinhaler. See if you can

find a pharmacist that iseasy to talk to, yet showsconcern and is able toexplain what you needto know as a consumerof both prescriptionmedications and vitaminsupplements.WHAT TO LOOK FOR

IN A PHARMACYWhere your family

pharmacist worksshould also be an impor-tant consideration whendeciding how to meetyour medication needs.Most people taking med-ications visit a pharmacymonthly and shouldconsider several factorswhen choosing whichpharmacy to patronize.

Convenience is animportant issue with allof the time pressurespeople feel these days.The pharmacy should bein a convenient locationwith convenient parkingnearby. If you are unableto get to the pharmacy,the pharmacy shouldmake sure your prescrip-

tions are mailed to yourhome or delivered toyour home or work.Having the ability toopen a charge account orhave a credit card kepton file for charging pre-scriptions is a conven-ient feature, especiallywhen you are on a trip orsomeone else is pickingup the prescription foryou.

The pharmacy mayoffer special services thatset them apart from theother pharmacies. Youmight be interested inspecial packaging tomake it easier to remem-ber to take your medica-tions. If you have dia-betes, finding a pharma-cy that can demonstrateseveral glucose monitorsto find which one worksbest for you can maketesting your blood sugareasier. Some pharmacieshave the ability to“download” the readingsoff your diabetes moni-tor and print them outfor you. This will helpboth you and your doc-tor control your dia-betes. Ask if the pharma-cy can measure your“Alc” level to check yourlong-term glucose con-trol.

Look for a pharmacythat offers a privatecounseling area so youcan ask personal ques-tions without beingoverheard. Other con-veniences that should betaken into accountinclude a toll-free phonenumber to use if you liveout-of-town or are onvacation. Ordering refillsover the internet issomething new manyprogressive pharmaciesnow offer. Many times,you can also look uphealth information onthe pharmacies’ Websites as well.

It is a good idea to get

all of your prescriptionsfilled at a single pharma-cy. The pharmacy keepsa complete medicationprofile on you. Theseprofiles record all med-ications you are taking,health problems anddrug allergies that youhave told the pharmacistabout. By going to onepharmacy, your pharma-cist will be able to con-tinuously update yourpatient profile - makingsure all the informationis accurate. This willhelp avoid problems thatoccur when some med-ications are mixed.

With a little effort,you should be able tofind a pharmacy that willbe your partner in yourgoal of living a healthfullife.

HOW TO READ A PRESCRIPTIONMost prescriptions

are made up of Latinabbreviations.

The following is ashort list of some of themore common ones andwhat they mean:

i: oneii: two

iii: threeiv: four

po: take by mouthQD: take once a day

BID: take two times aday

TID: take three times aday

QID: take four times aday

q12h: take every 12hours

q4-6h: take every 4 to 6hours

prn: as needed or ifneeded

pc: after a mealac: before a meal

as: left earad: right earou: both eyesod: right eyeos: left eye

tsp: teaspoonfulml: milliliter

2 March 21, 2012Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide

... choose a pharmacy/pharmacistH

ow

to

. . .

APRIL 8MAY 8

Page 3: Health How-To, March 2012

Adornthe one you adore

For Him...

For Her . . .

Wedding Bands crafted with new metals including (but notlimited to) Titanium, RoyalSteel, Zirconium, BlackZirconium, Back Ceramic,Royal Cobalt, Tungsten,Carbide, Exotic wood,Mokume and Camoflaugeinlay!

We offer Dancing Diamonds,beautiful laser drilled diamondin motion. Because these dia-monds have platinum jumprings instead of prongs, they getcomplete and stunning disper-sion of light.!

Mike Lynchpreparing toset a diamond

Marti Lynchshowingbridal sets

Easter is approaching! Keep in mind that weoffer a huge selection of religous jewelrymade to YOUR specifications! Remounts canbe done at anytime. We have a huge archiveselection! For sports enthusiasts, we offermedallions engraveable with their favoritesport number! Discs and medals make greatgraduation gifts!

www.lynchjewelry.com

Store Hours:M,T, W, F - 9am - 5pmThurs - 9am - 6pmSaturday - 9am - 1pmSunday - Closed

Visiting a jeweler canbe an overwhelmingexperience because mostshoppers simply don’tknow enough about theintricacies of gemstones,precious gemstones andprecious metals to maketheir choices easily.That’s why finding a rep-utable and competentjeweler is important.

Any jeweler shouldbe willing and able toshow customers a vari-ety of gemstones andjewelry in differentshapes, sizes and quali-ties and should stock abroad selection of ringstyles to enable you todecide which best fityour pocket book.

Your jeweler shouldbe able to help you learnto see with your owneyes why some dia-monds of similar sizediffer greatly in value,for from a practical per-spective-how you mightreasonably select from avariety of different sizes,all priced similarly to fityour budget.

All of us like to feelwe receive a good valuewhen we make a majorpurchase. Take time tofind what you want and

where you want to buyit.

Diamonds, forinstance, can be confus-ing. Even if two dia-monds are the same size,color and clarity, differ-ences in the way theywere cut, their finishand fluorescence cancause one to be worthmuch more than theother. BUYING GEMSTONES

Gemstones have beensought after and treas-ured throughout history.They have been found inruins dating back severalthousand years. They arevalued as gifts symboliz-ing love. Generally, theprice of any gemstone isdetermined by size, cut,quality – which includescolor, clarity and treat-ments – and type. Hereare some simple ques-tions to ask about quali-ty:

• Has it been heattreated?

• Is the stone naturalor synthetic?

• Are there anynoticeable scratches,chips or inclusions?

• Is the color eventhroughout the stone?

• How strong is the

color? Is it vivid? • If you are buying

the stones for earrings orcufflinks, are the stoneswell-matched?

ADVICE TO PROTECT JEWELRY

Try to protect anyjewelry from scratches,sharp blows, harshchemicals, extreme tem-peratures and sunlight.Here’s some advice abouthow to keep your jewel-ry in good condition:

• Store jewelry sepa-rately so it doesn’tscratch other jewelry.

• When doing house-hold tasks such as gar-dening and cleaning, becertain to remove rings.

• Put your jewelry onafter washing or bathingand applying makeup orhair spray.

• Never wear jewelrywhile swimming in aswimming pool. Thechlorine can cause dam-age to various gemstonesand gold.

• Avoid storing yourjewelry next to a heatingvent, window sill or on acar’s dash board. Storejewelry away from sun-light (the sun may fadethe gemstones).

• Always store bead

necklaces (such as lapis,pearls, etc.) flat; silkstretches over time. Donot store pearls in plas-tic bags.

• Gemstones maybecome loose in theirsettings (and possiblyfall out). Be certainstones mounted in ringsare not loose and don’trattle. The prongs of aring can and do weardown. If the prongs weardown too much orbreak, you lose thestone. Prongs are easily“retipped” by mostBench jewelers to keepthe stone secure.

• Sterling silver willpolish up by rubbing orbuffing it with a soft cot-ton cloth.

• Store silver in plas-tic bags with an inter-locking seal to make itless prone to tarnish.

• Remember, also, thehardness of stones playsinto how they can betreated.

Hardness is based ona gem-trade standardcalled the Mohs Scale.The higher the MohsScale number, the harderthe stone. The highestMohs Scale number rat-ing is 10, for diamonds.

Anything rated lessthan 7 on the scale canbe easily scratched –coral, lapis, lazuli, opal,pearl, turquoise, forinstance. gold, silver andplatinum are at the softend of the scale.

KEYS TO A FINE JEWELER

When you are search-ing for a jeweler, remem-ber you may spend thou-sands of dollars overtime at this business. It’simperative to find some-one you feel comfortablewith and someone whois willing to work withyou when you havequestions about jewelry,repairs or perhaps spe-cial orders. Find a storewhere the owner is thejeweler, someone active-ly involved in the store’soperation who knowshis clientele and thebusiness. Your chosenstore should be able todesign and create finejewelry.

DESIGN IS MOSTIMPORTANT ASPECT

OF JEWELRYCustom built jewelry

has become a veryimportant feature youcan only get from a per-sonal jeweler. Manystores sell jewelry butlack the technicalknowledge and skill of acertified jeweler. Thenice feature is the ring,necklace, pendant,bracelet or earrings aremade exclusively foryou. You can help designyour own piece and getexactly the artistic lookthat fits you and yourlifestyle. This personalexpertise is good afterthe piece is completed. Itis important to be able tohave the work done onthe item at the locationof the jeweler. The jew-eler now has the timeand technology to makecustom built pieces attheir store.

... choose a jewelerMarch 21, 2012 3Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide

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Page 4: Health How-To, March 2012

That’s why families call us first.

• Compassionate andprofessional funeral providers

• Modern and spaciousfacilities for your comfort

• Flexibility to provide apersonalized and uniquememorial

• Affordable pre-planning atyour convenience

214 North 4th Avenue • Logan

(712) 644-2929www.loganfuneralchapel.com

LoganMemorialFuneralChapel

310 East Huron Street • Missouri Valley

(712) 642-2745www.hennesseyaman.com

Hennessey -AmanFuneralChapel

Randy ScottFuneral Director

--IT MAY BE A GIFTTO THOSE YOU LOVE

It was Ben Franklinwho said nothing is cer-tain but death and taxes.This article does not dealwith taxes, but rather theother certainty in life.Everyone dies, so a dis-cussion of funeral plan-ning is never irrelevant.

When someone welove dies, there are vary-ing stages of anger, con-fusion and numbness.The funeral is one of themost significant meanswe have of dealing withgrief. The funeral ritualhelps us focus our emo-tions and brings a senseof meaning to death. Itconfirms the reality ofdeath and provides a cat-alyst for mourners totalking about thedeceased. Experts tell usbeing able to talk aboutthe life of a deceasedloved one is one of thefirst steps toward accept-ing death.

PREARRANGINGYOUR FUNERALPrearranging your

funeral is not much dif-ferent than any otherplanning you have car-ried out during your life-time. You buy insurancein case of fire, flood,theft or death. Thesecoverages are purchasedas an act of love andresponsibility for thoseyou love in case anunfortunate incidentoccurs. A pre-plannedfuneral accomplishes thesame goals.

A pre-planned funeralcan prevent your familymembers from having tomake a number of signif-icant decisions at a timewhen they are confusedand upset. They willhave enough on theirminds dealing with griefwithout having to makeseveral important deci-sions in a very short

period of time. Expertstell us that there are anaverage of 50 decisionsto be made when arrang-ing a funeral.

Adding to the needfor pre-planning is thefact that our lifestyle ismore complex in today’sworld. Family membersoften live in differentstates, complicatingrapid decision making.Further complicationsstem from frustrationsthat occur when dealingwith government agen-cies in different states. Asolid pre-planning ses-sion can prevent thesecomplications which canloom very large during atime of pain and sorrow.

HOW TO PLANA call to a funeral

director is a good begin-ning in making sure youhave covered all yourbases in your planning.He or she can lead youthrough a process toensure you don’t forgetvital information in yourplan. Some funeral direc-tors offer free bookletsthat provide a “punchlist” of topics to thinkthrough and record yourwishes.

Topics in these guidesinclude funeral detailsranging from visitationto the memorial serviceand alternatives fromburial, cremation orentombment. These areobvious decisions, butother important topicsinclude categories thatwill provide a helpinghand to your family.Additional topicsinclude organizations tobe notified with phonenumbers, persons to benotified, medical history,estate information,banking information,real estate holdings andinsurance policies. Manyinclude obituary infor-mation outlines, person-

al property inventoriesand special instructionand information pages.There may also be infor-mation regarding theimportance of your willand how to go aboutensuring it is accurateand updated.PREFUNDING YOUR

FUNERALPrefunding your

funeral also is an impor-tant consideration. Yourfuneral director canshow you options whichwill waive your familyfrom possible financialburden later. You maytake out a life insurancepolicy which wouldcover funeral expenses,or invest in a funeraltrust account or finalexpense insurance poli-cy. In most cases, fundsinvested today would beenough to cover the totalcost of the funeral sinceinterest earned by thefunds will offset theeffect of inflation.Government regulationssafeguard your invest-ment so funds willalways be available foruse.

Another importantpart in your plan is tomake sure your lovedones know where yourrecorded wishes can be

found. Millions of dol-lars in government andinsurance death benefitsgo unclaimed becausefamily members do notknow where to findinformation they need atthe time of death.

Some considerationsthat also need to remainin the forefront of thepre-planning agenda:

• Social Security:When a loved one dies,dependents and sur-vivors may be eligible forcertain benefits such asdeath payments, sur-vivor’s benefits andMedicare. Qualificationsdepend on several fac-tors such as age, maritalstatus, number ofdependents and whetheremployment was underSocial Security. YourSocial Security accountshould be verified peri-odically to ensure contri-butions are posted. Allbenefits must be appliedfor since payments arenot automatic.

• Veterans Benefits:Honorably-dischargedveterans are entitled tobenefits that may affectdecisions about funeralarrangements. For exam-ple, veterans may qualifyfor a cemetery plot andburial allowances, a

headstone and burialflag, as well as pensionfor survivors.

• Medicaid: There areprovisions under FederalTitle 19 that allow anindividual to shelterfunds to serve the familylater by providing forfuneral arrangements.

Since qualificationsvary for each of theseoptions, it is best to dis-cuss your situation withyour funeral director.IMPORTANT POINTS

• The funeral ritualhelps us focus our emo-tions and brings a senseof meaning to death.

• A pre-plannedfuneral can prevent yourfamily members fromhaving to make a num-ber of significant deci-sions when they are con-fused and upset.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

• Have you selected acemetery or memoriallocation?

• Are certain religiouscustoms to be followed?

• Are there any spe-cial readings, biblicalpassages or musicalselections you prefer touse in the memorialservice?

• Do you want toname pallbearers?

4 March 21, 2012Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide

... prearrange a funeral

We are here to takecare of your needswhether they are locally,nationally orinternationally.

310 East Huron Street • Missouri Valley 215 North 4th Avenue • Logan

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Page 5: Health How-To, March 2012

Chad L. SomaFARM BUREAU AGENT503 Walker St, Suite 5Woodbine, IA 51579(712) 647-2647

H142IA (11-10) FB-19-P-10

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

I know health insurance. { Here is where you let out a sigh of relief. }

We all know that ahealthy lifestyle lowersyour risk for health con-cerns, but it may alsolower your insurance pre-miums. The cost of an in-dividual life insurance pol-icy takes into considera-tion your age, height,weight, medical historyand personal habits.

Here’s how these fac-tors could affect your lifeinsurance rates:

Age and genderYouth has its advan-

tages and one is lower lifeinsurance rates. It is possi-ble to purchase life insur-ance later in life however,depending on your ageand general health, thecost may be prohibitive.Women also typically get

lower rates because oftheir longer life expectan-cies.

General healthSerious medical condi-

tions, such as cancer, canbe a strike against youwhen purchasing life in-surance. However, somemedical issues, like asth-ma or high blood pressuremay not affect your rates ifbeing properly treated.Don’t wait until you have aserious illness to apply forlife insurance.

WeightObesity is a contribut-

ing factor to many healthconditions. Because of thisconnection, many insurerstake your body weightinto consideration whenapplying for life insurance.

Family medical historyFamily history can be a

predictor of future medicalconcerns, but won’t neces-sarily prohibit you fromgetting the best rate, espe-cially if you are eligible forpreferred rates based onage, gender, weight, andgeneral health.

Smoking habitsSmokers pay higher

premiums for life insur-ance than non-smokersfor obvious reasons. Thebest way to lower yourrates is to quit smokingaltogether. Some compa-nies require you to besmoke-free for severalyears before being eligiblefor non-smoker rates.

HobbiesThrill-seekers and ex-

treme sports enthusiastsmay pay higher premiumsas a result of their high-risk pastimes. Some insur-ance companies consideractivities such as moun-tain climbing, scuba div-ing, or flying planes to behigh risk. You may be ableto lower your rates by cut-ting back on participationor adhering to certain safe-ty guidelines.

Keep in mind that allcriteria are consideredwhen factoring insurancerates, so one area of con-cern, such as family histo-ry, may not be enough toraise your premiums.Contact your Farm Bureauagent for a no-obligationquote on life insuranceoptions to fit your budget

and your family’s needs.Tips brought to you by

Farm Bureau FinancialServices. For more infor-mation about productsand services, call ChadSoma at 712-647-2647.

Securities & servicesoffered through FBL Mar-keting Services, LLC+,5400 University Ave.,West Des Moines, IA50266, 877/860-2904,Member SIPC. Farm Bur-eau Property & CasualtyInsurance Company+*,Western Agricultural In-surance Company+*,Farm Bureau Life In-surance Company-+*/West Des Moines, IA.+Affiliates *Company pro-viders of Farm Bureau Fi-nancial Services.

March 21, 2012 5Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide

... How to understand insuranceH

ow

to

. . . Fitting Life Insurance Into Your Lifestyle

How Much is Enough?If you’re like most Americans, you may

have some life insurance coverage. But issome life insurance enough life insurance?

Experts recommend coverage equal to 10times your annual income. 1 If you earn$35,000 a year, your estimated life insurancecoverage need is $350,000. That may seemlike a lot of money at first, but think of it thisway. Your income provides for essentials –home, car(s), food, clothing, healthcare, re-tirement savings, paying off loans – and non-essentials like entertainment and travel.

Consider what would happen if yourincome suddenly stopped in the case of yourunexpected death? How would your familymeet these ongoing financial needs?

During the emotional struggle your fami-ly would face in losing a loved one, thefinancial strain from the loss of your income

shouldn’t have to add to the stress. Lifeinsurance helps ensure the people you careabout will be provided for financially, even ifyou’re not there to care for them yourself.

2. Determining how much life insuranceis enough depends on your unique combina-tion of essentials and luxuries. The LifeInsurance Needs calculator onwww.FBFS.com can give you a general senseof your coverage needs, and your Farm Bu-reau agent can help you select a life insur-ance policy that fits your specific situation.There are a number of life insurance optionsavailable to fit nearly every budget, everyschedule and every need – no matter howbig or small it may seem. Contact your FarmBureau agent today to be sure your life insur-ance coverage is enough life insurance cov-erage.

1. Life and Health Insurance Foundation,www.lifehappens.org, Life Insurance RealityCheck: Do You Have Enough, 2010.

2. Life and Health Insurance Foundation,www.life-line.org, Who Needs Life In-surance?, visited June 13, 2011.

Tips brought to you by Farm BureauFinancial Services. For more information a-bout products and services, call Chad Somaat 712-647-2647.

Securities & services offered through FBLMarketing Services, LLC+, 5400 UniversityAve., West Des Moines, IA 50266, 877/860-2904, Member SIPC. Farm Bureau Property& Casualty Insurance Company+*, WesternAgricultural Insurance Company+*, FarmBureau Life Insurance Company+*/West DesMoines, IA. +Affiliates *Company providersof Farm Bureau Financial Services .

Count On Your Local Farm Bureau AgentBy: Chad Soma

Have you ever felt likeyou’re the only one whodoesn’t understand yourhealth insurance plan?Don’t. Making decisionsabout health insurance andunderstanding it can beoverwhelming and confus-ing for everyone. That’s

why you can count on yourlocal Farm Bureau agent tohelp you make sense of allthe jumble and jargon.

Your health is one ofyour most valuable assets.As time goes on, it’s impor-tant to take care of yourselfso you can keep up yourlifestyle. One of the easiest

ways to take care of your-self is to make sure youhave quality, reliable healthcare coverage, and someonewho can help you get themost out of your coverage.

At Farm Bureau, we’recommitted to your commu-nity and understand whattype of health insurance

you need. We’re here tohelp you whenever youneed it, before and after youpurchase a policy. We’llmake sure your healthcomes first. It’s time to relaxand enjoy life. Take the has-sle out of health insuranceand turn to someone youcan count on.

Chad Soma, 712-647-2647

Authorized agent forWellmark Blue Cross andBlue Shield of Iowa, anindependent licensee of theBlue Cross and Blue ShieldAssociation. SN12-001

Page 6: Health How-To, March 2012

44 LLiicceennsseedd IInnssuurraannccee AAggeennttss wwiitthh aa ccoommbbiinneedd 110066 yyeeaarrss ooff eexxppeerriieennccee..

MMaakkeess AA BBiigg DDiiffffeerreennccee!!

Mark WarnerAgent

Susan GilfillanAgent

Fred StraightAgent

Kelly CraftAgent/Customer

Service Rep.

Kathy NiedermyerCustomer

Service Rep.

WWAARRNNEERRIINNSSUURRAANNCCEE

AAGGEENNCCYY,, IINNCC..LLooggaann PPhh.. 664444--22445566 220077 EE.. 77tthh SStt..

For Your ConvenienceHOURS:

Mon., - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - NoonVisit Us Online atwarnerinsuranceagencyinc.com

Companies We Represent• Allied Group• EMC Companies• 1st Auto & Casualty• Farmers Mutual Hail• 1st Comp• ICAP • IMWCA• Grundy Continental

Insurance Companies• Progressive• Western IA Mutual• United Fire & Casualty• IMT

Don’t assume all poli-cies are the same.

We represent severalinsurance companies.We can find a policy

tailored for you.

Insurance agents andbrokers can streamlineyour insurance purchas-es and become your allyif you run into insuranceproblems down the road.

The terms “agent”and “broker” are oftenused interchangeably,but is there a difference?Technically, an agentsells insurance from oneinsurance company,while brokers representmany carriers. An “inde-pendent agent” is unaffil-iated with any particularinsurer and represents arange of companies.

GETTING STARTEDDo your homework

before you set foot insidean insurance agency.First, identify what youwant in auto, health,home, life, business andother insurance prod-ucts. Write it down. Thislist of features becomesthe summary plan thatyou will give to agentsand brokers in exchangefor price quotes.

When you are in theshopping-around stage,you can go online to get

price quotes and ball-park figures for usefulcomparative rates. Ithelps to know what costsyou are facing. THE RIGHT AGENCY

Look for strong serv-ice reputations and seekout testimonials fromother satisfied cus-tomers. Use any contactyou have in the insur-ance business to find outwhat agents are consid-ered the most helpful.

Ask how long theagency has been in busi-ness and what insurers itworks with.Longstanding agencieshave clout with insurersand they can be youradvocate if you face aclaims problem. Askyour agent if he or shehas knowledge in han-dling claims and if he orshe is allowed to help insettling a claim. Manyinsurance companieswill not let their agentintervene with theadjuster to help theclient in a claim settle-ment. Don’t be shy aboutasking for references.-

and following up onthem.

Work with insurersthat are financially sta-ble. Rating services suchas Standard and Poorsand A.M. best rankinsurance companiesbased on financial stabil-ity and performance, andgood brokers will discusswith you the financialstatus of the insurersthey work with.

Often, one agency canhandle all of your insur-ance business. Accordingto the Better BusinessBureau, one way to savemoney is to insure allyour automobiles withthe same company oragent and to buy yourhomeowner’s policy orother insurance policiesfrom the same source.Multi-policy discountsare common. Ask aboutlong-term holder dis-counts. Combining poli-cies also helps to elimi-nate gaps in coverage.Also, ask what otherservices the broker offersand at what costs.Alternately, you can shop

around based purely onprice comparisons. Ifyou treat insurance justas a commodity brokersmight not appreciate it,but you have the right toshop until you are satis-fied. However, watch outfor low-ball quotes.Often times, needed cov-erages are eliminated,undisclosed deductiblesare found and hiddencharges and penalties areassessed for filing aclaim.

HERE ARE SOMEWORDS TO KNOWWHILE SHOPPINGFOR INSURANCE• C o n d i t i o n s :

Explanations in the poli-cy of your and youragent’s responsibilities.For example, how claimsare to be filed and whatproofs you must submitwith your claim

• C o v e r a g e :Description in the policyon specific circum-stances in which you canreceive benefits.

•Deductible: Theamount of a loss or claimyou must pay before you

can collect.•Premium: The cost

of the insurance policy. RATINGS ARE IMPORTANT

It is also important tounderstand the ratings,especially in car insur-ance. The rating is theprocess by which theprice of your insurancecoverage is determined.States are divided intoratings territories. Yourinsurance agent, in thecase of car insurance,bases part of the price ofyour policy on the claimshistory of all the driversit insures in your territo-ry. Often there are dis-counts related to age andhousehold or marital sta-tus.

GET SMARTAccording to a recent

survey commissioned bythe National Associationof InsuranceCommissioners, 67 per-cent of Americans feelthey have about the rightamount of insurancecoverage, although only28 percent say theyunderstand the details ofthe coverage “very well.”

Your state’s depart-ment of insurance canprovide rate guides forboth auto and home-owner’s insurance, whichcan help consumers shopwisely for the insurancethey need.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW • Check the financial

ratings of insurers.• Shop around.• Low price may or

may not be the decidingfactor.

• Write down whattype of insurance fea-tures you want.

• Remember to fullydisclose all needed infor-mation so that you donot leave uncovered gapsin your insurance cover-age.

6 March 21, 2012Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide

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Page 7: Health How-To, March 2012

IN BANKING, BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYSBETTER. BETTER IS BETTER!

In good times and in bad, we offer banking solutions tomeet your changing needs at every stage.

Ask us about FREEchecking today!

Member

Logan712-644-3256

Member FDICwww.communitybankiowa.com

Dunlap 712-643-5442Modale 712-645-2255Persia 712-488-2425Pisgah 712-456-2291Soldier 712-884-2255Ute 712-885-2275

Most locally own-ed banks offer thesame array of servic-es, from online billpaying to debit andcredit cards, at amuch lower costthan big banks.Average fees at smallbanks are substan-tially lower than atbig banks, accordingto national data.Studies show thatsmall financial insti-tutions also offer, onaverage, better inter-est rates on savingsand better terms oncredit cards and ot-her loans.

Small businesses,which create the ma-jority of new jobs,depend heavily onsmall, local banks forfinancing. Althoughsmall and mid-sizedbanks control lessthan one-quarter ofall the bank assets,they account formore than half of allsmall business lend-ing.

At local banks,loan approvals andother key decisionsare made locally bypeople who live inthe community, haveface-to-face relation-ships with their cus-tomers, and under-stand local needs.Because of this per-sonal knowledge,local financial insti-tutions are often ableto approve smallbusiness and otherloans that big bankswould reject.

Think about what

is important to youin a banking rela-tionship. Do youwant a personal,long term relation-ship with a bank? Asmaller local bankmight suit yourneeds.

The fortunes oflocal banks are inti-mately tied to thefortunes of their lo-cal communities.The more the com-munity prospers, themore the local bankbenefits, this is whymany local banks areinvolved in theircommunities.

The primary activ-ity of a small bank isto turn deposits intoloans and other pro-ductive investments.Meanwhile, bigbanks devote a siz-able share of theirresources to generatebig profits for the

bank, but provide lit-tle economic or scialvalue for the rest ofus.

Check out differ-ent bank websites.Browse the types ofproducts and servic-es that are offered,and think aboutwhat is important toyou. Visit the branchwhere you would

conduct most ofyour banking busi-ness, are the tellersprofessional andfriendly? Are the ofi-cers and / or man-agers accessible?Talk to the bankersthat would be incharge of youraccounts. Do theyseem genuinelyinterested in you?

Are they willing andeager to help yousucceed?

Our bank is local-ly owned and ouremployees are yourneighbors andfriends. We atCommunity Bankwant to do businesswith you. Stop in orgive us a call.

March 21, 2012 7Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide

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YOUR Community Bank location in Logan. Community Bankhas been serving all its customers since 1926.

Page 8: Health How-To, March 2012

24 hour Emergency Service for our customersNATE certified

712-644-3260 or 877-326-2277

Ronda, Becky, Gerry, Matt, Jake, John, Nick, Kevin

Office: 420 E. 7th, LoganShop & sheet metal fabricating facility

Growing with Harrison CountySince 1975

HOW DO I CHOOSEAN AIR-CONDITION-

ING SYSTEM?Selecting a central air

conditioner is an impor-tant decision, since theair conditioning systemis a home’s largest ener-gy user. The right ACsystem makes a homecomfortable and effi-cient. The wrong onecan cause discomfort,humidity and mainte-nance problems andincrease your utilitybills.

Purchasing an ACunit is one of the largestinvestments- both atpurchase and in operat-ing costs- homeownerscan make in their prop-erty. As with any majorpurchase, the moreinformation you havethe better decisions youcan make.

WHAT SHOULD IKNOW BEFORE

LOOKING?Making and informed

AC equipment choicemeans:

• Selecting a reliableheating, ventilating andair conditioning (HVAC)contractor.

• Getting a thoroughload calculation com-pleted on your home.

• Purchasing an effi-cient properly sizedHVAC system.

• Choosing a thermo-stat that provides com-fort and encourages effi-cient energy use.

HOW DO I SELECT AN HVAC CONTRACTOR?

When searching for aconscientious, licensed,bonded contractoralways contact yourregional Better BusinessBureau to make sure thecontractor you select hasa satisfactory rating. Theregional office should belisted in the businesswhite pages of your local

telephone directory. The contractor you

select should complete acooling load analysis,and a humidity loadanalysis and a humidityload analysis. Good con-tractors will have NATEcertification and properlicensing. In addition,the contractor shouldprovide service after theinstallation and an ACoperation manual. WHAT IS A COOLING

LOAD ANALYSIS?A cooling load analy-

sis calculates how muchheat enters your homein one hour when theoutdoor temperaturereaches 95 degrees. Thisanalysis ensures thateven at 95 degrees yourAC capacity will be suf-ficient to remove theunwanted heat.

An incomplete cool-ing load analysis cancause you to make apoor AC choice. Manycontractors simply esti-mate the cooling loadand the size of theequipment you needbased only on the squarefootage of the home.Often this rule-of-thumbapproach used one TONof air-conditioning per500 square feet of floorarea. This estimate oftenresults in improperequipment size andimproper duct sizewhich can affect the lifeand efficiency of yourcomfort system. A rep-utable contractor willcomplete a load calcula-tion that also includes ahumidity load. If you arereplacing a unit, a loadanalysis should be doneby a HVAC contractor todetermine if the olderunit size is really appro-priate. WHAT SHOULD THE

CALCULATION CONSIDER?

Heat passes through

the walls, roof, windowsand doors and is gener-ated by people in thehome. The load calcula-tion should consider allof the following heat andhumidity factors:

• Surface area of thewalls, attic, windowsand doors

• Type and thicknessof the insulation in thewalls, floor and roof

• Type, size, orienta-tion and number of win-dows

• Orientation ofhouse

• Permanent exteriorsiding

• Occupant activities• Kitchen, bath and

laundry equipment• Ventilation needs • Outdoor air infiltra-

tion• People capacity of

the home (using twopersons per bedroom)

Many other factorscan increase a home’shumidity. Cooking,extra people in thehouse, lighting andmoisture from the bath,house plants, kitchen orlaundry contribute toindoor moisture andincrease the home’s cool-ing load. HOW IS EQUIPMENTSIZED FOR A HOME?

Air conditioningequipment is available inmany different sizes fordifferent types of homes.The term “size” refers tothe combined coolingcapacity and dehumidi-fication capacity. A cool-ing load analysis givesthe required size of theAC unit based on thelargest expected heatgain of the house.Cooling load and equip-ment size is expressedby BTUH (BritishThermal Units perHour) or TONS; oneTON of AC equals12,000 BTUH. Ask your

contractor about theSEER rating of the ACequipment.

Many contractorssimply add 25 to 30 per-cent to the cooling loadanalysis to account forhumidity. In manyhomes this shortcut canactually increase humid-ity levels reaching 30 to50 percent of the totalcooling analysis. Inhumid areas, it is impor-tant to have a coolingload analysis that givesthe humidity gainincluding moisture fromoutdoor air, cooking,showers and washing.

HOW CAN I USE THE ANALYSIS TOSELECT A UNIT?Once the cooling load

analysis is completed,the heat and moisturegain should be com-pared to the heat and

humidity removal capac-ities of other models onthe market. Differentmodels and brands ofAC equipment, rated atthe same overall capaci-ty, can have varyingmoisture removal capac-ities. So check both heatand moisture removaland compare to yourcontractor’s calculations.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOWPurchasing an AC

unit is one of the largestinvestments homeown-ers can make in theirproperty.

Contact your regionalBetter Business Bureauto help you make a deci-sion on an HVAC con-tractor.

Air conditioningequipment is available inmany different sizes fordifferent types of homes.

8 March 21, 2012Logan Herald-Observer and Woodbine Twiner: How to Guide

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