Health Communications and Health Advocacy
With deep understanding, health communicators can engage and inspire change, whether in individuals or in society as a whole.
What happens when the physician becomes the patient? What happens when the physician is a urologist and the disease he has, is something he's treated before? Joseph Salisz can explain what happens because he’s been there. He describes his profession, “I fix plumbing problems.” And the “ironic twist,” as he puts it, is that he … Continue reading On Losing One’s Bladder
As a 4th grader in Jackson Mississippi, Ivor stood outside a hospital room and listened to her father scream, “Let me go…let me go...” as three men held him down for a spinal tap. In that moment, she made her decision to become a physician, “I didn’t want to feel that disempowered again,” she states. … Continue reading Reach For Your Best!
In 1990, Robert Harris and his wife and best friend, Cindy, had been married 10 years and had two boys, ages 2 and 5. One day, Cindy complained of pain in her knee. After going to an orthopedic surgeon expecting the usual sports related diagnosis, their world changed. Physicians discovered that she had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. … Continue reading It’s Okay To Laugh, Cry and Feel Uncertain
When patients hear the term “The Empowered Doctor” they may ask “I thought physicians were empowered. Staff, systems ,procedures are controlled by them. What am I missing ?”** “Doctors in their prime are going out of business,” says Dr. Simon Sikorski, President of Empowered Doctor Inc. Dr. Sikorski believes that physicians need to realize they … Continue reading Physicians Need Social Media
You know those little dosage cups that are on all the children’s over the counter medications…One study from 2010 found that only 30% of those using these cups with printed markings gave accurate dosages. Large errors (40% off ) were made by ¼ of the parents using the printed cup. In fact cups were associated … Continue reading Pharmacists As Partners
The Workplace Bullying Institute defines Workplace Bullying as repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators that takes one or more of the following forms: Verbal abuse Offensive conduct/behaviors (including nonverbal) which are threatening, humiliating, or intimidating Work interference — sabotage — which prevents work from getting done … Continue reading Do Nurses Eat Their Young? What’s Wrong With Communication in Health Care?
A 2011 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine brings to light another problem with caregiving. The people that are hired to care for elders or disabled may not be health literate. Health literacy is about understanding complex terminology. It’s about conversational competence like the ability to listen effectively, articulate health concerns and explain symptoms accurately. It’s also about evaluating, … Continue reading Another Caregiver Conundrum…
"Nothing connects doctor & patient faster than a simple moment of pure listening. Not just waiting for your turn to talk, but real listening." Tweet by Dr. Steven Eisenberg, January 5, 2013 I wrote a post a year ago entitled "What happened to Old School Medicine?" Perhaps, by putting my mourning for my father "out … Continue reading What ever happened to old school medicine? It’s still around…
"There are four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers." Rosalyn Carter First Lady Rosalyn Carter is both philosophical and truthful when she describes caregivers. There are 66 million adults in the US who are … Continue reading $375 Billion Worth of Value: Family Caregivers
This is beyond disturbing. Does anyone from the school(s) explain the length of time rationale? I mean, don't get me wrong...the padded room is ridiculous enough, but more alarming is the length of time a child is placed in this type of room as a 'time out' for their behavior. Most childhood experts agree that … Continue reading Parents Take Notice: Seclusion Rooms
When I was younger, I would look at a mother playing with her baby and a warm feeling would come over me. I would just dwell in the experience of joy. Now I wonder about their life, their future, their heartaches to come. That change occurred in me when a friend's son was born. As … Continue reading Light A Lamp
A couple of days ago, I heard the waaah-waaah-waaah of an Emergency vehicle. I pulled over. I then watched as other cars passed me, ignoring the Emergency, ignoring the people who were trying to get a victim of an accident or heart attack or whatever, to the hospital in time to save her. I thought … Continue reading Pull Over & Pay Taxes
The etymology of the word “Patient” is described on Webster’s site as: derived from the Latin word patiens, the present participle of the deponent verb pati, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers". Patient is also the adjective form of patience. Both senses of the word share a common origin. On Graduation Day, medical students become MDs and … Continue reading Patient-Centered Medicine Part 2
WE ARE ALL PATIENTS! The etymology of the word “Patient” is described on Webster’s site as: derived from the Latin word patiens, the present participle of the deponent verb pati, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers". Patient is also the adjective form of patience. Both senses of the word share a common origin. On Graduation Day, medical … Continue reading Patient-Centered Medicine Part 2
Times they are a-changing. My dad wouldn’t have liked what’s happening. C. A. Hoffman, Jr. was an old-school physician. Often, to the chagrin of his office staff, he spent real time with his patients. Five o’clock would come and go. His office was busy and filled with his laughter and booming voice. A ringing office … Continue reading What happened to "old school" medicine?
Health Communications and Health Advocacy 