By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Let’s face it, health and medical news reported by mainstream media can be misleading. In attempts to capture the attention of the public with alluring headlines, the substance of a news story may be imbalanced and inaccurate. Consumers ought to be skeptical when reading a health story or listening to a segment on their favorite morning show or nightly news program. How do consumers know what questions to ask…
Read More...How to be an Empowered Health Consumer
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Empowered health consumers know how to take charge of their health and are proactive in their care. Whether they’re surfing the web for health information, visiting their doctor or health care professional, or a patient in the hospital; empowered health consumers know how to question and communicate. This blog is a continuation of the “He Said, She Said” post where I promised to give you tips about how to…
Read More...Hand Washing and Swine Flu H1N1 – Still Important
Barbara and Kevin’s First, “He Said, She Said” Read our tips in our next post to find out how to be an empowered health consumer! She Said – Barbara Health Information – Confusing? I think most of us feel that there is so much health information circulating the web, in print and on TV that it can often be confusing. Major news networks may have the best intention to provide solid information, but there are…
Read More...He Said, She Said – Viewpoints from Kevin Soden, MD & Barbara Ficarra, RN
Welcome to He Said, She Said! He Said, She Said will be an ongoing posts with views from Kevin Soden, MD, MPH and Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA. Kevin and Barbara will provide their own unique insights into the health news of the day. As any man and woman who work in varying parts of the health care system and live in very different geographic and social communities, their perspectives may or may not vary…
Read More...Health Consumers Need to Ask Tough Questions
Meet the Media Panel a Success By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA As promised, here is my follow-up post to “Meet the Media: Covering an Ailing Healthcare System in Critical Times.” I was invited by the NY Chapter Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) to be part of the “Meet the Media: Covering an Ailing Healthcare System in Critical Times” panel at Ketchum Public Relations. I love New York City. No matter what time of…
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