Rules of Patient Engagement: How to Deeply Connect with Empathy

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA In my recent post on KevinMD, “Deeply connect and engage your patients with empathy,” I write about how empathy is essential to help empower our patients. “It is with empathy that we can engage and empower our patients.” Doctors and nurses are leaders in health care. Being a great leader means having a clear vision, mission or goal.  It means being committed, and knowing how to listen and communicate,…

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How to Filter Cancer Prevention Headlines

Guest post submitted by MD Anderson Cancer Center Most of us can’t keep up with all the new ways to avoid cancer. Thanks to the Internet, we now have an unlimited supply of cancer knowledge at our fingertips.  But, how can we filter out the good, the bad and the questionable? Below are steps to help you tease out the facts when reading that next big news story on preventing cancer. Says who? Don’t just…

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Empowered Patient: NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – TB Control

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA I was honored to speak to an amazing group of physicians, nurses and health workers from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene- Bureau of Tuberculosis Control–2010 Tuberculosis, on Tuesday. The topic, “Patient Empowerment:  Engaging Our Patients to Take Charge of Their Health.” Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. It is evident that from talking with these passionate health care professionals, who work…

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Patient Engagement: Health IT, What Microsoft Health Users Group Exchange Means for you

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA How important is Health IT to you and should you care? At the Microsoft Health Users Group Exchange this month at the Microsoft Corporate Campus in Redmond, WA, patient engagement was the overall theme. Whether presenters were talking about “Cloud Computing,” “Care Coordination,” or “Population Health Management,” empowering the patient was the paradigm. “At the end of the day, we’re all patients,” Bill Crounse, MD, keynote speaker and Senior…

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