One of the obstacles being faced by President Obama as he works to overhaul the health care system is the shortage of doctors across America. Our country is woefully unprepared for the number of primary care physicians that we will need as the American population ages. The problem is that fewer doctors are interested in doing primary care, since the medicare payments to primary care physicians are lower than those made to specialists. As a result, there's been a 51.8% decline in the number of medical school students going into primary care since 1997.

I have my own opinions on Obama's Health care plan. Generally, I support the idea of health care reform, but I am concerned about the long list of special interest groups who stand in the way of true progress. After securing the needs of health insurance companies, hospitals, and big pharmaceutical companies, the American people are going to fall to the back of the line.

There have been recent reports in media that the Swine Flu situation has risen to a state of emergency. Some wonder if this is truly the case, while there are others who argue that the Swine flu has had a powerful effect on children. Black doctors have had a great deal to say about the impact of the vaccine on the African American community. Last week, Dr. Elaina George had a lively debate with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on The Michael Baisden Show about the merits of the Swine Flu Vaccine.

I caught up with Dr. George, a Princeton-educated physician, about the alleged state of emergency and she had this to say:

Most of us are worried about the Swine flu and what it could do to the health of our nation. While most physicians are not speaking to the public, Dr. Elaina George is full of good information. A Princeton-trained physician who has a great deal to say about African American health, Dr. George recently shared some information on how to manage the Swine flu.

Health Insurance Companies causing pain for patients: Are insurance companies limiting the options available to your doctor? That may be the case. While our nation is quick to blame physicians for the state of healthcare, the insurance companies may be a more sensible target for our collective frustration.


What is umbrella insurance? - This type of policy protects you from all the things that your standard insurance plan doesn't cover. Everyone should consider getting umbrella insurance.

Swine flu season is coming and the world is ducking for cover. Media coverage of this phenomenon (also known as the H1N1 Virus) has me shaking at the sight of a pig or a pork chop. People are dying and there is now talk of a potential pandemic of epic proportions. In response to my own panic, as well as that of the rest of America, drug manufacturers are pushing hard to get the latest vaccines on the market. People are going to be afraid regardless, so why not make a profit in the process, right?

But is all the hype necessary or is the media playing with our heads? If you decide to get the swine flu vaccine, are there questions you should ask your doctor first?

Most of us think that drugs which come out of a legal manufacturer are going to be safer than those being sold by a dealer on the corner. That was once the case. But with the deaths of Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith, it has become clearer by the day that prescription drugs are fast becoming America's new obsession.

Rush Limbaugh, a man who once called for drug addicts to be sent to prison, found himself hooked on Oxycontin, which is considered a form of legalized heroin. College students are also getting in on the act by abusing a drug called Adderall, typically used to treat ADHD symptoms. The drug intensifies the students' ability to study, allowing the student to focus for long periods of time.