HINTS FROM HELOISE

By Hints From Heloise
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Dear Heloise:

Three hours from home, my 64-year-old husband ended up in an emergency room with horrible pains, cold chills and nausea. He called me on his cellphone and told me the name of the town, but was too ill to even go to the desk and find out the name of the hospital. Getting phone numbers from information, I finally found out where he was, only to be shut out of getting any information because of the patient-privacy law (HIPAA). Was he having a heart attack? Was he dying? They would not tell me. Fortunately, it turned out to be only a violent stomach virus.

As a result of this frightening episode, we now have copies of our health directives, HIPAA access forms and medical information in clearly marked envelopes. Every person, including teens, should have a written, signed, witnessed directive as to what he or she wants done in case of emergencies, including who can be informed. No next of kin should be denied access to a loved one's health status because of paperwork! A copy should also be in your files at your primary-care doctor's office.

Jan L., Bella Vista, Ark.

Jan, thank you for sharing your scary experience so others don't have to go through this.

Dear Heloise:

I also save the plastic bags from the delivered newspaper. I keep a few in my car and slide one over my hand when I pump gasoline to keep the germs and odor off my hands. It works!

Deborah, Fairfax Station

Dear Heloise:

Recently, my family and I had to make an emergency stop on a remote roadside, and we spotted a small case that contained a digital camera. Unfortunately, there were few photos on the camera, and certainly nothing that could tell us who the owner might be.

I thought that it would be wise for owners of such devices to include on their memory cards a small file (text file that can be created on any computer) named "ownerinfo.txt." It could have text like "If found, please return to . . ." and that way if they were to ever lose the memory card (or the device it is in), it could be returned. One could include a cellphone number or a mailing address, but not too much personal information.

Marie Featherston, Houston

A good hint, and for those not technically savvy, stick an address label on the camera or take a photo of the same.

Dear Heloise:

Whenever I get a bill for a subscription renewal, I check prices on the Internet. If I find a better price, I call the magazine's customer-service line and ask the magazine to match the price. So far, they've all said yes!

Kelley Sanderson, Chipeta Park, Colo.

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Tex. 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it toHeloise@Heloise.com. Please include your city and state when faxing or using e-mail. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.

2008King Features Syndicate