Providing optimal care for patients is a goal many health care settings have established. The Detroit Medical Center has learned that they can come closer to achieving that goal through electronic record-keeping.

When it comes to health care, many people are concerned about affordable individual health insurance premiums and quality service.

According to the Detroit Medical Center, more effectively using technology to keep track of medical records has resulted in fewer medical accidents taking place. Fewer medical errors have consequently resulted in additional savings for the hospital system.

DMC chief medical information officer Dr. Leland Babitch notes that using electronic medical records is a win-win situation for all involved.

"The latest surveys show that EMR has helped to reduce medication errors by up to 75 percent," said Babitch. "Obviously, that's a major gain for patients – especially given the fact that medication errors account for the majority of accidental deaths and injuries at U.S. hospitals."

Recently, the government has been making a big push for the healthcare industry to make meaningful use of electronic medical records. The findings from DMC show the potential value of switching over to electronic record keeping.

High costs for individual health insurance programs have made many people worry about how they can afford adequate coverage. This holds true especially for those who want to retire early, but are over the age of 55.

Fortunately, financial assistance will be available for early retirees who are not eligible for Medicare yet. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently approved approximately 2,000 employers and unions to receive funds under the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program.

"In these tough economic times, it is difficult for employers to keep up with skyrocketing health care costs for employees and retirees," said HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Many Americans who retire before they are eligible for Medicare see their life savings disappear because of medical bills and exorbitant rates in the individual health insurance market."

Older Americans typically end up paying more for health insurance because they are considered a bigger liability to insure. Starting in 2014, health insurance exchanges are slated to be available for people to get individual health insurance quotes and coverage along with other valuable information.

Many states are struggling to manage their budgets, especially with increased expenses from the Affordable Care Act and being required to offer health insurance coverage to a growing number of people. Recently, the National Alliance on Mental Illness raised concerns over mental health care cuts.

According to a study released by the Urban Institute, more than 50 percent of babies born into poverty have a mother suffering from depression. Of those, more than 70 percent fail to get appropriate treatment.

"During a time of national economic distress and severe budget cuts in mental health services, the Urban Institute study raises concern about the urgency of the needs of women and children," said NAMI executive director Michael Fitzpatrick.

Obtaining mental health services is crucial not just so a mother feels better, but for her children's benefit as well. A report from the Connecticut Commission on Children cites results from the CalWORKS Project as finding children under the age of six are at an increased risk of being homeless and ending up in foster care if their parents were poor and had depression.

Health insurance has been in the minds of many people of late. With healthcare regulation still taking place, many companies and employees are interested in how their costs match up to others.

The bi-annual South Carolina Employer Benefits Survey by Rosenfeld Einstein reveals that South Carolina's PPO plan premiums average $389 for individual plans compared to $410 nationally.

Data from the survey also reveals that those in South Carolina are taking the reins when it comes to controlling their healthcare needs. Almost half of the companies surveyed said they offered consumer-directed healthcare plans.

The large number of employers responding to the survey help provide more insight into health expense trends.

"The record participation from nearly 200 businesses representing over 52,000 employees and dozens of industries is highly significant," said Rosenfeld Einstein principal Howard Einstein. "These findings provide actionable, current information to guide future benefits planning decisions."

Nationwide, healthcare costs have consistently increased year after year. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, healthcare spending in 2008 was $7,681 per person. The rate of funds spent per resident in the U.S. is one of the highest of any industrial country, says the KFF.

As people age, many decide to forgo their individual health insurance plans and opt for Medicare as soon as they become eligible to do so. Many people switch to Medicare because individual health insurance premiums can be high and Medicare offers inexpensive prescription drug plans.

Under the Affordable Care Act, people stand to benefit even more from having Medicare. Recently, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that 1 million Medicare beneficiaries have received assistance with paying for their prescription medications.

The government has been helping those on Medicare who fall into the "donut hole" by mailing $250 rebate checks to those who qualify. The "donut hole" is a gap in coverage for those who have Medicare prescription drug coverage and aren't receiving Medicare Extra Help.

"These checks will make a difference in helping seniors continue to get the medications they need, and are one of many ways that the Affordable Care Act is helping seniors," said Sebelius.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, prescription medication costs have increased faster than other areas of the healthcare industry.