By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Some patients struggle to communicate effectively with their doctors and some doctors and nurses find it difficult to communicate and collaborate with each other. Historically, the dynamic symbiotic relationship between doctors and nurses has been a little shaky, evidenced by the lack of engagement and respect for one another. Hospitals are chaotic and stressful. Working in such an environment can lead to frustration and it can take a toll…
Read More...Doctor-Patient Relationship: How Patients Can Help Enhance Communication
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA From Kevin Pho’s medical blog, KevinMD, a post archived from 2004, Pho talks about the struggles of communication between doctor and patient during the 15 minute office visit. Pho sites a NY Times article that explains that more than two decades ago, research shows that patients were interrupted 18 seconds into explaining their problem (on average) and less than 2 percent got to finish their explanations. Pho sites that…
Read More...Egg Recall Tied to Salmonella, List of Recalled Eggs, How to Read Carton and What to do to Stay Safe
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Latest egg recall update Health officials urge consumers to throw away contaminated eggs or return them to the retailer. Salmonella, the name of a group of bacteria, is the most common cause of food poisoning in the United States. Usually, symptoms last 4-7 days and most people get better without treatment. But, salmonella can be more serious in older adults, infants, and persons with chronic illnesses. [Source] Wright County…
Read More...Speaking Event at NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – Patient Empowerment
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA I’m excited to be a keynote speaker at the NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on October 5, 2010 in New York City. I will be speaking at the Bureau of Tuberculosis Control–2010 Tuberculosis MD Seminar. The topic of my speaking presentation is: “Patient Empowerment: Engaging Our Patients to Take Charge of Their Health.” More info coming soon. —– New York City Department of Health and Mental…
Read More...Health Journalism: Have we reached new lows?
Guest post by Gary Schwitzer It doesn’t get much worse than this in health journalism; NY Daily News finds new lows By Gary Schwitzer [Original post published on Gary Schwitzer’s HealthNewsReview Blog, July 13, 2010 and reprinted with permission from Gary Schwitzer.] I know that many people just dismiss the New York Daily News, but you can’t dismiss the number of readers it has and the potential impact its stories may have on them –…
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