We would like to take a moment and welcome Diane to our office. She has joined us in the role of office manager and we are delighted to have her. She has been in office management for the construction business for over 20 years, and she is looking forward to the new benefits and challenges of working in a new setting.

We are sure that with our great patients and the sound philosophy of healing that Diane will be welcomed and will enjoy the change of pace.

Diane is a mother of two girls ages 11 and 10. She enjoys spending time with her family and stays busy with their various activities from ice skating and dancing to scouts. We are excited about the wealth of knowledge and personal gifts of management and organization Diane brings with her from her years of experience. You will be impressed by her friendly and warm nature. Please welcome her to our office.

Americans are taking medicines for all kinds of conditions these days. From those that lower cholesterol and reduce the threat of heart disease, that help lift people out of debilitating depressions, that keep diabetes in check, and that help people lose weight the fact is that 44% of Americans are on some type of prescription drug regularly. In fact 16.5% take three drugs. Those numbers are up 5% from 10 years ago. This coorelates with a spike in money spent on health care. Spending on health climbed 9.3 percent in 2002 to $1.6 trillion. Prescription drugs, which make up about one-tenth of the total medical bill, were the fastest growing expenditure. The price of drugs rose 5 percent, but wider use of medicines pushed total expenditures up 15.3 percent in 2002. Drug expenditures have risen at least 15 percent every year since 1998. The report said prescription drug use was increasing among people of all ages, and use increases with age. Nearly half of all women were taking prescription drugs - 49 percent - compared to 39 percent of men. Usage peaked at 84 percent for people aged 65 and over, with the top rate at 89 percent for black women over 65. Even for people under age 18, however, nearly one-fourth - 24.1 percent - were taking at least one prescription medication. The rate rose to 34.7 percent between age 18 and 44; for those ages 45 to 64, it was 62.1 percent. Are Americans over-drugged? It's a real and poignant question we must examine if we hope to improve the state of this country's health care.