By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

Part two of a three part series on Healthin30

TEDMED Great Challenges: Improving Medical Communication

What are your ideas to improve medical communication in health care?

The TEDMED Great Challenges Team in Medical Communication recently gathered together on Google Plus Live Hangout to talk about how to improve medical communication in the health care today.

In part one, I shared my thoughts on the topic of medical communication.  I spoke about the importance of empathy, being an empowered patient, and the significance of verbal communication for physicians, clinicians and nurses.

The TEDEMD Great Challenges: Improving Medical Communication, moderated by Emily Paulsen.  The medical communication team consists of Joseph Kvedar, MD, Robert Arnold, MD, Selma Caal, MD, John Cox, and Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA.

The YouTube video is here, and below please find insights from John Cox and Selma Caal, MD, which are in tweetable form.

Selma Caal, MD @childtrends

• Patients ask, “What have I done to create this?” Because of culture patients may feel… By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• …they will be judged by doctor By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Non-judgmental doctor will be able to make patients feel comfortable -then engage in conversation By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Important for doctors to be educators for patients who might not have knowledge By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Many patients don’t know where to begin to start asking questions By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Nurses/ Health Educators can help patients before they see doctor. By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• They can help generate questions for patients By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Health educators- good idea to help provide information to patients By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Health educators can help walk along with patients and… By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• …and help empower them By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Patients feel that there’s not enough time with doctor By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• …sometimes doctor isn’t even paying attention to them. By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Review data first then just engage. By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Meet patients where they are By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• No matter the vehicle doctors use to communicate, it’s important… By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Important for patients to know privacy is kept…otherwise… By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• …otherwise trust is going to be hurt. By Dr. Caal @childtrends Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges

John Cox @epjohn

• Healthcare system cares about the overall patient outcome. By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Important for patients to partner with their physicians. By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Maximize the time; be prepared with the right questions By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Email, chat and social media are great for filling in the details, but… By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• … they don’t replace the concern, empathy and non-verbal elements. By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Technology is good to help being a conduit for conveying and capturing the details… By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• …data and decision point. By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Make conversations digital and capture in a visual format helps By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Use ipads to share images. By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Health care not one size fits all. By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges
• Multimodal communication. You don’t have to get it all in one place. By John Cox @epjohn Via @BarbaraFicarra @TEDMED #greatchallenges

More on TEDMED

TEDMED Great Challenges of Health and Medicine – Medical Communication

TEDMED Great Challenges: Improving Medical Communication-Sound Bites for Twitter

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Your turn

What Twitter sound bites do you have to improve medical communication in health care today?  Please share them in the comment section below.

As always, thank you for your very valuable time.

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

Part one of a three part series on Healthin30

TEDMED Great Challenges:  Improving Medical Communication

TEDMED Great Challenges Improving Medical Communication Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

The TEDMED Great Challenges Team in Medical Communication recently gathered together on Google Plus Live Hangout to talk about how to improve medical communication in the health care today.

Moderated by Emily Paulsen, the medical communication team is comprised of: Joseph Kvedar, MD, Robert Arnold, MD, Selma Caal, MD, John Cox, and Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA.

The YouTube video is below and you will also find snippets from the conversation which can be tweeted.

This post is a three part series.

Part one:  Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

Part two:  John Cox and Selma Caal, MD.

Part three:  Joseph Kvedar, MD and Robert Arnold, MD.

Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA @BarbaraFicarra

 Sound bites from the conversation for Twitter

• It’s very important for patients to be engaged and empowered in their health By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Be prepared before doctor/clinician visits. Write down questions By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Bring questions to physicians/clinicians -they can help guide the patients By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• In the hospital patients are asking a lot of questions By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Communication skills needed to assist with the empowered patient By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Important to teach social media and verbal communication skills to… By @BarbaraFicarra Via@BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• … doctors and nurses in med schools and nursing schools By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Important for patients to be 100% clear/honest with clinicians to avoid any complications By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Give an accurate history, and be truthful By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Patients need to mention any supplements they take because can interfere with some medications.  By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
•  Empathy is a huge component in health care By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Engage with #empathy-communicate, collaborate and listen By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• When you encounter a physician/clinician with empathy your care is much better received By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
•   …and better outcomes. A partnership between clinician and patients is important… By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• …and if there isn’t a partnership find a clinician who fits your needs to work together to meet goals.  By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Empathy is missing and it’s needed By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Health literacy is important. Explain things in simple terms without medical jargon. By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• @GarySchwitzer offers information for health care journalists and consumers. By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• @GarySchwitzer Helps guide readers to teach what’s accurate and how to dive into a study. By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• @GarySchwitzer Helps put you on track By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• What to look for in a solid trustworthy piece of health information.  By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• It’s great that patients are so empowered to research and find information By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• and this is where clinicians come into play to  help guide patients By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Health care silos are separate By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Important to listen to the conversations happening in the social networking sites… By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• @ReginaHolliday a huge epatient advocate started Partnerships with Patients on FB By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• @epatientDave another great advocate. By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Health care system needs to tap into social media and listen to conversations By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Technology is moving at lightning speed—i.e. telemedicien/telepsychiatry. By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• In hospital patients/families r bringing laptops/tablets and Google  as u talk with them By @BarbaraFicarra #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• They’re saying, is this best practice? By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED
• Can you make sure that everything that is being done is best practice? By @BarbaraFicarra  #greatchallenges #hcsm @TEDMED

(I’ll be sharing more of my thoughts on this topic in future posts.)

TEDMED Great Challenges Improving Medical Communication

Connect with me | Stay in touch

• Follow Barbara on Twitter
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• Like Healthin30
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• Become a Fan and Like Barbara Ficarra on The Huffington Post

Your turn

What Twitter sound bites do you have to improve medical communication in health care today?  Please share them in the comment section below.

As always, thank you for your very valuable time.

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

Hybrid Assistive Limb or HAL

“A robot suit that can help the elderly or disabled get around was given its global safety certificate in Japan on Wednesday, paving the way for its worldwide roll-out,” according to Discovery News.

The Hybrid Assistive Limb®, or HAL, is a power-assisted pair of legs developed by Japanese robot maker, Yoshiyuki Sankai, CEO Cyberdyne Inc.

The following text is an excerpt from the YouTube video below.

• HAL weighs less than 10 kilograms and comes in sizes small, medium and large, and it helps elderly patients bound to a wheel chair walk.
• When a person tries to move his leg, electrical impulses flow from the brain to the leg muscles. The sensor detects the brain signals and sends commands to the motor then the robot suit begins to assist the leg muscles.   This occurs the instant a person thinks to move his legs.
• Sankai wants to provide technological support for care workers with back pain so they can continue to work, and HAL assists with that.  The suit will allow a wearer to easily carry a man weighing 60 kilograms.
• Sankai hopes to complete a marketable model next year, according to the NNK World reporter on this video.

Additional information can be found here.  Image – Cyberdyne.

Hybrid Assistive Limb® from Cyberdyne – Snotr

Your Turn

What do you think about HAL?  Will it help move health care forward?  Please share your insightful thoughts in the comment section below.  As always, thank you for your valuable time.

You can read more on health care technology here on Healthin30.

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By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

The health care social media legal series continues here on Healthin30, and legal expert, David Harlow, Esq, Health Care Attorney and Consultant at The Harlow Group, LLC in Boston, answers a series of questions focusing on the legal aspects of physicians engaging in social media.

Health Care Social Media – Legal Aspects

Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

Q: Barbara – According to the American Medical Association, it states:  “When physicians see content posted by colleagues that appears unprofessional they have a responsibility to bring that content to the attention of the individual, so that he or she can remove it and/or take other appropriate actions.  If the behavior significantly violates professional norms and the individual does not take appropriate action to resolve the situation, the physician should report the matter to appropriate authorities.”

Who is the appropriate authority?

David Harlow, Esq.

A: David Harlow, Esq. – The peer reporting laws and regulations of each state’s medical board generally establish the duty of a physician regarding peer monitoring and reporting. It is a condition of each physician’s license to monitor colleagues and report infractions — whether related to clinical issues or matters of candor, privacy and integrity, as outlined above.

Q: Barbara – Can a consumer or patient report inappropriate physician behavior?  Who would they report it to?

A: David Harlow, Esq. – The state medical board is the governmental authority that would investigate such allegations. There are also professional societies, employers, medical staff organizations and hospitals or other facilities where the clinician has privileges that may have relevant polices in place regarding inappropriate use of social media. It is often the case that some of such organizations will respond more rapidly to an allegation of such inappropriate behavior than the state agency would.

Q: Barbara – What’s the bottom line when it comes to social media and doctors?

A: David Harlow, Esq. – Social media platforms are important portals for communication back and forth between patient and clinician, and among clinicians. Clinicians must recognize the limitations of all of their tools, including these communications tools. Using these tools can lead to greater patient activation and engagement, to better clinical understanding, and better sharing of learnings relevant to disease prevention and care.

I always like to warn people that social media is a power tool — you need to learn how to use it properly, or someone’s going to get hurt.

Your turn

We would love for you to share your insightful thoughts in the comment section below.  How do you engage in social media?  What has been your experience with Twitter and Facebook?

Connect with me | Stay in touch

• Follow Barbara on Twitter
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More on Social Media and Health Here

• Doctors and Social Media: Personal vs. Professional Online Content
• Doctors and Social Media – Two Photos Which Could Prompt State Boards to Investigate
• State Medical Boards Addresses Inappropriate Online Physician Behaviors
• Social Media Health: 3 Key Elements to Use When Engaging in Social Media
• Social Media Legal Concerns: Questions and Answers with David Harlow, Esq.
• List of 20 Excellent Social Media Networking Resources
• 3 Reasons Why Social Networking Is Not a Waste of Time for Health Professionals
• Healthin30-Social Media/Networking

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

TEDMED Great Challenge – Improving Medical Communication – The Team: Robert Arnold, MD, John Cox, Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA, Steven Kussin, MD, Joseph Kvedar, MD, and Selma Caal, MD

TEDMED Great Challenge -  Medical Communication

TEDMED Great Challenge continues.  Join us today for the live Google Plus event.

Tune in today February 14, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. EST at TEDMED.com and ask your questions.   We’ll answer them during the live discussion.

The Medical Communication Challenge Team includes:

• Robert Arnold, MD – Director, Institute for Doctor-Patient Communication, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• John Cox – Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Visible Health, Inc.
• Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA – Founder, Health in 30™ (Healthin30.com)
• Steven Kussin, MD – Founder of The Shared Decision Center in Utica, NY and the Author of Doctor Your Patient Will See You Now
• Joseph Kvedar, MD – Founder and Director, Center for Connected Health, Partners HealthCare
• Selma Caal, MD – Research Scientist, Child Trends Lead Author

(Your may learn more about the team here at TEDMED.)

Physicians are not typically trained in interpersonal communications and are not rewarded based on their communication skills.

Equally important, patients are often intimidated when talking to doctors and often feel they don’t have a receptive audience, especially when doctors are rushed. What can be done about this on both sides of the challenge (patients and doctors) — including possible initiatives in areas ranging from education to technology, to possible changes in the physical workspace?

How do we make this issue a priority?

That will be topic we’ll tackle with TEDMED during a Great Challenges live event on Thursday at 3:30pmEST. Tune in to TEDMED.com to ask questions, watch us discuss this issue, and give us your thoughts.

Connect with me | Stay in touch

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