Health Literacy

Health care expenses can be costly, and it's important to set money aside to manage these costs. One option is to save money in an emergency fund or a savings account that provides tax-saving benefits. The two most common options for saving are Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Authors: Virginia Brown, Maria Pippidis, Dorothy Nuckols, and Kelly Sipple; Title: Saving for Health & Medical Expenses: Health Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts (FS-1019).

Vibrio bacteria naturally inhabit coastal waters and are frequently isolated from a variety of raw seafood, particularly oysters. Detection of Vibrio species in seafood and growing water has traditionally been problematic because of the limitations of conventional techniques based on plate culture methods. Moreover, no culture method is able to discriminate pathogenic populations. In order to provide education and training to individuals involved in seafood testing, a hands-on training course has been developed and offered through cooperative efforts of University of Maryland Extension (UME) and University of Maryland’s Joint Institute of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN). The methods described in this manual are designed for detection and enumeration V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, and V. cholerae in oysters. The analytical methods are combination of procedures from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) and other sources, and have been used as training protocols for the hands-on training course on Vibrio Detection.

After selecting a health insurance plan, it is crucial to choose a primary care provider. This factsheet will outline four steps to assist you in selecting the right one for you. Authors: Virginia Brown, updated by Jesse Ketterman and Suzanne Cooke; Title: How do I Choose a Primary Care Provider? Ask the Right Questions (FS-1022).

Being physically and financially healthy is important for you and your family. Health insurance is a way to manage and reduce the risk of getting sick and becoming injured as well as provide greater income security. Health insurance gives you access to preventive services like screenings and check-ups that are helpful if you develop a chronic condition or become injured. If a health problem happens, the results can be costly. Health insurance helps reduce and manage risks, especially the financial one. Authors: Mia Russell, Virginia Brown, Bonnie Braun, Lynn Little, Maria Pippidis. Updated by Carrie Sorenson, and Lynn Matava. Title: Health Insurance Protects and Provides for You and Your Family (EBR-41).

This publication provides an overview of marijuana (cannabis) and its effects on the body and overall health. The article also discusses contamination issues and provides resources for further research. Authors: Nili Lang, Emma Kniola, and Alexander Chan; Title: Legalized Recreational Marijuana Use in Maryland (FS-2023-0670)

Working with a nutrition professional can be a great way to maintain or improve your health. However, it can be confusing to decide who you want to see and determine how to pay for these visits. This factsheet will help you: (1) identify reasons you might want to work with a nutrition professional., (2) understand the different types of nutrition professionals about their credentials, educational backgrounds, and areas of expertise. (3) learn how to determine whether your health insurance covers visits with a nutrition professional and the potential costs of accessing these services. This information can help you access the professionals you need to support your health and wellness while keeping your out-of-pocket costs as low as possible. Authors: Alvin Douglas, Catherine Sorenson, and Dr. Shauna Henley; Title: Does Your Health Insurance Plan Cover Nutrition Counseling? (FS-2023-0677)

Paying for health care can be a struggle, even if you have insurance. Many doctors and dentists now offer a special medical credit card to pay for services. However, medical credit card interest and fees can be very expensive. They add extra costs to medical care when money is already tight. Authors: Dorothy Nuckols and Priscilla Graves; Title: Medical Credit: Safety Net or Debt Trap?

The purpose of this fact sheet is to 1) give consumers addtional information on whom to contact when sick, 2) how a sick person would be diagnosed, and 3) the questions your health care provider may ask. The fact sheet also provides a list of Maryland Health Departments, how reporting is important to your community and how this data is used, and lastly an optional list of foodbourne pathogens most problematic in Maryland

Avian pox is a viral disease that can occur in two forms: dry or skin (cutaneous) and the wet (or diphtheritic) form. Mortality is usually low (1%-5%), however, severe cases of wet pox can result in much higher mortality