Power of Social Media: Sharecare, Twitter and You

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA One word to describe social media is engagement.  Social media allows relationships to develop and it fosters connection among the community.  A two-way conversation emerges and collaboration surfaces. Twitter, one platform in the social media arena, allows real-time communication to occur in 140 characters or less. Sharecare’s recent Twitter chat engaged the community with information to help them learn about the importance of sleep.  Sharecare’s sleep experts gathered online…

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Social Media and Technology in Health Care: ePharma Summit Goes Beyond Pharma

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Social media and mobile intersect at ePharma Summit Patients and health care consumers are engaged in their health and the internet has allowed them to be empowered in their health care. They are actively searching and accessing information online and they are using their Smartphones to stay connected and to manage their health.  Whether they engage online or with the click of an app, technology is transforming health care….

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Social Media: Are you engaged or do you ignore it?

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Can health care providers afford to ignore social media? Social Media Networking isn’t going to go away… …and trying to ignore won’t work… Social media is a powerful and phenomenal platform to disseminate valuable and trusted health information.  Are you engaged in social media networking or are you ignoring it? Social media allows health care silos the opportunity to engage with each other.  Health care conversations between the silos…

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Gaming for Better Health

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA An epic win Parts 1 through 4 of the series “How is Gaming Changing the Landscape in Health Care,” clearly defined the importance of gaming in the health care arena. Games for Health Gaming utilizing smartphones and social networking are helping to transform health care. Jane McGonigal, Game Designer in her TED Talk from February 2010 said, “Right now we spend 3 billion hours a week playing online games.”…

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Social Media Networking: Twitter Chat with Sharecare’s Sleep Experts

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Join me @BarbaraFicarra and @SharecareNow sleep experts for a spirited conversation about sleep problems and solutions on 1/24/12 from 12 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST for a twitter chat.  Twitter hashtag is #geturzzzs. Sleep is an essential part of our health and well-being.  Sleep isn’t a luxury but crucial for good health.  Research shows that insufficient sleep has been linked to chronic diseases and conditions such as Type 2…

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