Flu Season-Insights from the ER

Flu Season is here; a quick vaccine reference to avoid an Emergency Room Visit. By Justin S. Larkin, MD As the sun sets on summer and the fall weather is now here, this means one thing in the Emergency Departments around the world, Flu Season.  Flu related chief complaints during the winter months place a large strain on Emergency Departments around the country. Often the wait times to be seen and overcrowding of the department…

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Health: Online Health by the Numbers

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Digital Technology has changed the landscape in health care, and it has changed the role of the consumer, patient, caregiver and health care professional. The internet has empowered patients and consumers to take charge of their health and to be proactive.  Consumers and patients are active participants in their health care. The Pew Internet and American Life Project explores the impact of the internet and “provides information on the…

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Update: Emergency Medicine Resident at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Chooses Healthin30 for Mini-Fellowship in Medical Journalism

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Editor’s Note: Title change for a post published on August 8, 2013 I’d like to clarify the post from August 8, 2013. Justin Larkin, MD is an emergency medicine resident at The George Washington University Hospital, however the mini-fellowship is a curriculum requirement at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.   Mini Fellowship in Medical Journalism and Health Communications It is with great pleasure that…

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Empathy in Health Care

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA TED speaker Rebecca Saxe inspired this post. “The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.” These are heartfelt words by award-winning actress Meryl Streep. Do we all have the power of empathy? Are we hardwired to know what other people want? Is it easy to think about other people’s thoughts? Rebecca Saxe’s enlightening TEDTalk “How To Read Each Other’s Minds” asks: “Why is…

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Updated: Mobile Health-The Kaiser Way-An Interview with Bernard J. Tyson

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA A Go-To Health Care System for Innovation and Digital Technology “It’s something our members wanted, they have it and they love it,” said Kaiser Permanente’s Incoming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bernard J. Tyson, in a recent telephone interview. The “it” Mr. Tyson is referring to is the digital technology that allows Kaiser Permanente members to email their physicians. To date, there are “14 million e-visits,” he said, and…

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