By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA How do companies curb health care costs? Do healthier employees lead to increased productivity? Several progressive companies believe so and have committed to providing employees with programs to help engage them in a healthier lifestyle. As part of the incentives to lead a healthier lifestyle some employers have instituted a penalty and reward system tied to the companies’ benefits. For example, smokers may incur a significant surcharge to the…
Read More...Power of Facebook and Mobile Technology to Help Drive Behavior Change
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Numera Social Webinar: “Harness the Power of Facebook and iPhone Apps in Your Health & Wellness Programs” Facebook has more than 800 million active users and the average user has 130 friends. There are more than 350 million active users who currently access Facebook through their mobile devices. According to Pew Internet and American Life Project, Facebook dominates the Social Networking space. 92% of Social Network users are on…
Read More...Andy Baldwin Navy Doctor Finds Respect in Kenya
Guest Post by Andy Baldwin, MD The spirit and joy of running and living is alive in Kenya One word can sum up the way of life here in Kenya, RESPECT. Before I went to sleep in my grass and mud hut that first night in Kenya, I asked if there was anyone who would like to get up and go running at 5:30am, and a 19-year-old guy Isaac said he would. As many of…
Read More...Blogworld and New Media Expo Offer Social Health Track
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Social media has changed the landscape in health care. Social media is a powerful and phenomenal platform to help educate consumers, raise awareness of health issues and connect with consumers and colleagues. Social media gives a voice to patients and consumers and it allows the conversation to get started with doctors and other health care professionals. Social media is all about the patient and it paves the way for…
Read More...Connection is Critical in the Social Media Networking Space
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA People engaged in social media networking platforms are using it to build and strengthen relationships, establish trust, network and it may get them a walk down the aisle. A recent article in Harvard Business Review, “Social Strategies That Work,” author Mikotaj Jan Piskorski writes that dating websites collectively grossed $1 billion in 2010 by connecting strangers, and as a result an estimated one in six new marriages occurred. Dating…
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