Podcast #24

Welcome to edition #24 of Your Health, a program dedicated, obviously enough, to your health. And that of your loved ones. I'm Neal Linkon, Aurora's manager of Web Communications. Many of our story ideas do come from our listeners, so if you have a suggestion, please drop us a line at internet@aurora.org.

In this edition, we'll explore the vitamin D phenomenon, and what it means for you.  We'll look at whether bottled water is any better for you than tap water. And we'll talk about what to do if you don't have insurance, or don't have enough insurance.

There's been a lot in the news lately about vitamin D, and it's especially important this time of year. It has unique properties, and may be one of the most important supplements you can take.  To learn more, we talked with Dr. John Whitcomb, the Medical Director at the Aurora Sinai Medical Center Wellness Institute.

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One of our email newsletters features the writings of Dr. Whitcomb, and past editions include a lot of information on vitamin D.  To see some samples or to sign up, go to www.Aurora.org/enews, and look for a newsletter called Healthy Diet.

Americans consume more than 7.5 billion gallons of bottled water a year, averaging more than 26 gallons per person.

Why do so many thirsty people choose to drink bottled water instead of tap water? While some prefer the taste and convenience of bottled water, others believe that bottled water is safer to drink. But is it true?

For healthy people, both bottled water and tap water are considered safe to drink if they meet the standards of the FDA and EPA. The FDA sets food safety, labeling and inspection standards for bottled water, and the EPA sets standards and conducts frequent testing for municipal drinking water. But the sources and treatments of drinking water can vary considerably.

The taste and quality of drinking water depend on where it comes from and how it is chemically treated. Most tap water comes from surface sources, such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Most – but not all -- bottled water comes from ground sources, such as underground aquifers.

The taste and quality of ground water are less likely to vary day-to-day than water from surface sources. And water deep underground is less vulnerable to contamination than water on the surface. Even so, ground water can contain high levels of contaminants or be contaminated during the bottling and/or treatment processes.

How do you know where your water comes from? If your tap water's source is a public water system, you can check your annual water quality report or contact your water supplier to find its source. For bottled water, you can read the label to find out where the water comes from.

Artesian water, ground water, spring water, and well water come from underground aquifers.

Distilled water is steam from boiled water that is re-condensed and bottled.

Mineral water is ground water that naturally contains dissolved solvents such as minerals, salts and gases. Mineral water can also be prepared synthetically.

Purified or sterilized water may originate from any source, but is supposed to be treated according to the U.S. Pharmacopeia standards for purification and sterilization. U.S. Pharmacopeia sets official standards for all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and other health care products manufactured and sold in the U.S.

If you are still unsure of where your bottled water comes from or how it is treated after reading the label, call the manufacturer for more information.

In certain circumstances, tap water may become contaminated by substances such as disease-causing germs, making it unsafe to drink. In these instances, your water supplier is required to notify you by mail, radio, television or hand-delivery that your water does not meet safety standards. The notice you receive will describe precautions you need to take (such as boiling your water).

Drinking water may also become contaminated with toxic metals, including arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, mercury and silver. These metals may enter the water supply from natural sources, industrial processes, and materials used in plumbing systems. Since exposure to toxic metals can have serious health consequences, most water systems are tested regularly to make sure the levels of these substances are within safe standards.

If you are concerned about contaminants in your home's drinking water, have it tested. For more information about testing your water, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Although bottled water is considerably more expensive than tap water, it is not necessarily safer. In fact, all drinking water— both bottled and tap— may contain small amounts of contaminants. Furthermore, unlike publicly supplied tap water, the purity of bottled water is not regulated by the government.

A study that was published in 1999 by the National Resources Defense Council tested more than 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of bottled water. The researchers found that while most of the bottled water tested was of high quality, about one-third of the water contained levels of contamination that exceeded state or industry standards or guidelines.

If you're are interested in finding out about the source and quality of your public water supply, you can read your local water supplier's annual water report or call and request a copy. If your water comes from a private well, make sure that the water is tested annually for nitrate and coliform bacteria, and more frequently for other contaminants, if you suspect a problem. And you can contact the manufacturer of your bottled water to request the results from the latest testing and find out how the water is treated to remove contaminants.

Once you are satisfied the water is of acceptable quality, consider its taste and expense. If a designer bottle of water tastes better to you and fits your budget, by all means, drink up. But if you are looking to save money, most publicly supplied tap water in the U.S. is safe to drink.

Helping Hand program

From time to time, we all experience hardships, financial or otherwise, and can use a helping hand. Aurora Health Care is committed to providing high quality medical services to our patients, and to making those services affordable and available to everyone.

Our Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program can offer you and your family a helping hand when you need it the most. This program is provided for patients of Aurora hospitals and clinics.

Anyone who does not have health insurance qualifies for some level of discount through this program, regardless of income.

Our patient financial counselors will identify a government program or an Aurora program that matches your ability to pay and gives special consideration to your unique situation. Once you receive information on how to access those programs, you may be required to complete an application. Our patient financial counselors will help you complete these forms.

You'll be asked to provide certain financial information that will help our patient financial counselors determine how much you will pay for the medical services you receive. We listen to our patients first and consider many factors when determining the assistance that is most appropriate to meet your unique needs.

If you qualify for discounted medical services, Aurora will work out a payment plan that is based on your ability to pay. We simply ask that you honor this payment plan.

Your income and family size are used to determine your ability to pay. The amount of discount you receive towards the balance of your medical bill will depend upon your adjusted income as compared with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Poverty Guidelines. In general, the larger your outstanding balance due for medical services, the greater the discount.

We also offer additional discounts if you pay your share promptly, or if you have suffered catastrophic health care bills (usually a bill higher than $25,000).

We understand that there are limits to the resources people can invest in health care. Working together, we will find a way for you to receive a helping hand.

We encourage you to speak with a patient financial counselor. Please call us toll free at 800-958-6202 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., or go to www.Aurora.org/HelpingHand for more information.

Thanks for joining us for this edition of Your Health. If we can help you in any way, please let us know at internet@aurora.org. I'm Neal Linkon, and I hope you'll join us for our next edition.