Health Care: Less Blame and More Engagement

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA [This is a follow-up post to Social Media:  3 Notable Quotes in the Social Health Space.] Health care happens before you visit with your doctor, nurse practitioner or other health care provider. Health care is about you. You have the choice to be an empowered, engaged and proactive consumer, and you have the choice to take action to live a healthier life.  It’s important to partner with your doctor…

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5 Buckets to Patient Engagement and the Role of HIT

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA What is patient engagement? Patient engagement is a connection between patient, caregiver and health care provider.  A trusted relationship forms and mutual respect is fostered.  Patients and their families are empowered and they are active in health care decisions.  However, patient engagement begins before the initial interaction with health care providers. When patients and consumers recognize the need to be in charge of their health, patient engagement evolves.  Patients…

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Patient Engagement and Health IT – Social Media Voices

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Four active social media influencers share their voices to define patient engagement and comment on why digital technology is important for the doctor/patient and caregiver relationship. What is patient engagement and how important is digital technology for the doctor/patient relationship? Twitter Jody Schoger @jodyms Writer, blogger. Optimist. Cancer Advocate. Working for a better world, one word at a time. The Woodlands, Texas • http://womenwcancer.blogspot.com/ The only person with the…

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Grand Rounds on Healthin30 Features Health IT – Mobile Technology, Telemedicine and More

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Thank you to everyone who submitted posts for Grand Rounds. I greatly appreciate it.  Grand Rounds is a summary of the best health care writing online.  It features stories, opinions and analysis from doctors, nurses, patients, researchers and administrators, as well as journalists.  This edition features health care technology blogs from industry experts.  I explored the web searching for blogs that I feel are worthwhile to read.  If your…

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