28 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • MARCH 16, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM wellness Reducing risks while taking care of business: Tips to avoid distracted driving Th e pace of business never seems to stop, and thanks to the convenience of cell phones, many people work on the go, even while they’re driving. Yet cell phone use is one of the most common type of distracted driving, and it claims thousands How does your hospital stack up for maternity care? As you get closer to your delivery date, many decisions lie ahead, all centered around care, maternity leave and even decorating the baby’s room. But one question may rise to the top: Where will you give birth? If you are like most expectant mothers, you will be giving birth in a hospital. In spite of the rising popularity of home births, most moms choose hospitals to have their babies. Th e most recent statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that fewer than 2 percent of babies born in the U.S. are born in a home setting. When you’re looking at where to give birth, expectant parents should consider the following while choosing a hospital, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). Where does your doctor go? Th e place to begin is with your doctor. Most women go to the hospital where their physician has admitting privileges. So when you choose your doctor, the hospital where your baby will be born is tied into that. Discuss your birth plan in detail with your physician and make sure you both are at an understanding. If you have specifi c preferences, ask your doctor if they can be accommodated. For example, if this is not your fi rst child, and you want to try a vaginal birth aft er cesarean (VBAC), have that discussion in detail with your physician. And while doctors are on call aft er offi ce hours, it’s always a possibility that your doctor cannot attend your birth. Know who would take the place of your doctor if those circumstances arise. What’s the rate of C-section? If you’re proceeding along in a healthy pregnancy, you may be planning a vaginal delivery. But a cesarean section is something to be aware of because one third of U.S. births are delivered by C-section, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield, Th e Health of America Report. It’s important for patients to understand that C-sections raise complications for both babies and mothers, and experts say these should be used only when medically necessary. In addition, vaginal births cost $4,000 less than surgical births. How does your hospital stack up? Th e Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on several quality measures, including the percentage of newborns that fall into the category of early elective delivery, an ongoing concern in the medical community. Th e program is meant to identify facilities that off er maternity care safely and aff ordably. Th e maternity programs also must off er family centered care, such as promotion of breastfeeding. If you’re interested in a list of hospitals that deliver quality maternity care, visit bcbs.com/healthcare-partners/blue-distinction for-providers/ and select “maternity care.” Which amenities are available at the hospital? Not all hospitals are alike, so take time to review what it has to off er. Some maternity centers off er birthing tubs and fold-out couches. Knowing whether the hospital has a newborn intensive care unit may be a consideration, depending on the circumstances of your delivery and birth. If the hospital does not have a neonatal intensive care unit, ask your physician how these newborns are evaluated and transferred to other facilities. If you are interested in breastfeeding, ask if lactation consultants are available and how and when you can seek assistance. Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for aff ordable healthcare. Courtesy BPT of lives and causes thousands more injuries every year. More than a quarter of all car crashes involve cell phone use, both hand sets and hands-free, the National Safety Council (NSC) reports. In 13 percent of fatal crashes, the drivers were using cellphones, the National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration (NHTSA) says. Th e actual number of cell phone-related accidents is likely much higher, since many states don’t yet compile and report data on cell phone use following a crash. Employers take up the issue Recognizing the ethical and liability issues that arise when employees drive while distracted, employers across the country have begun implementing distracted driving policies. Typically, these policies prohibit employees from using cellphones while driving on company time. In January 2017, the NSC reported that Cargill was the largest privately held company to prohibit the use of mobile devices, including hands-free technology, while an employee is driving on behalf of the company. Th e ban also covers work related calls while commuting to and from work, even if employees are driving their own vehicles. “Th ere is a time and place for doing business, and it’s not while you’re driving,” says Melanie Burke, director of health and safety at Cargill, a Minnesotabased privately held company with 150,000 employees around the world. Even Cargill’s Chairman and CEO David MacLennan is subject to the ban. In announcing the policy to employees in late 2016, MacLennan noted he was 138 days into cell-phone free motoring. “It’s been liberating,” he told employees. NSC data shows about 20 percent of Fortune 500 companies have instituted cell phone bans, and of those, just 1 percent believe the ban aff ected productivity. Replace risk, keep productivity Taking care of business doesn’t mean you have to risk a crash. Here are six ways to keep up with the pace of business without using your cell phone in the car: * Use an automated response app to let callers know you’re driving and can’t take their call at the moment. Th ese free apps allow you to personalize the response and set your phone to automatically reply with a text message to incoming calls or texts. • If you’re driving a vehicle outfi tted with communication technology, use its “do not disturb” feature to unplug from calls and texts while behind the wheel. • Use shared calendars to block off times when you’ll be on the road and unable to answer a call. Th e calendar item will help alert coworkers and anyone else connected to your calendar when you’ll be out of touch and when they might be able to reach you again. • Remove temptation. A study by AT&T found 62 percent of drivers keep their phones within reach in the car. Put yours away where you can’t see or reach it. You can place it in your purse, briefcase or messenger bag, and place the bag in the back seat. Further reduce distraction and temptation by turning your device off before stowing it. • If you absolutely must take a call while on the road, pull over in a safe location. If a call comes in while you’re driving, allow it to go to voicemail until you’re safely pulled over, then return the call. • Be aware of other dangerously distracting behaviors, such as putting on makeup, tying a necktie or eating while driving. Do all your dressing and personal grooming before you leave home, and if you must snack while driving, choose food that is easy to manage, like a granola bar (unwrap it when you’re stopped), rather than something messy like a burger with all the fi xings. Courtesy BPT
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