Power of Social Media: How the Medical Community is Embracing Social Media for Better Patient Care and Patient Engagement

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Social Media is exploding in the health care arena, and social media is a powerful and phenomenal platform for engaging patients. Social Media is transforming health care today, and connecting people in real-time. Social Media is one of the best ways to engage patients.  Social Media is about connection, collaboration, community and patient engagement. Doctors, nurses, other health professionals and the medical community communicate health information in a transparent…

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Healthin30 on KOMO News Radio Seattle, WA Shares Tips About Reading Food Labels

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA I was thrilled to take the other end of the microphone as guest expert for quick healthy living spot on KOMO News Radio in Seattle, WA, thanks to Matthew Holt and courtesy of The Health Care Blog. I talked with hosts John and Nancy about the importance of reading the ingredients on food packages.  Reading only the front food labels on food products can be misleading. Consumers need to…

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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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TV Nursing Dramas: ‘Nurse Jackie’ Needs Healing, ‘Hawthorne’ Offers Hope

Nurse Jackie vs. Hawthorne Two TV nursing dramas debut next month.  Only one seems to have potential to represent the real lives of nurses. By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Does the old adage, “You can’t judge a book by its cover” hold true for TV series?  “You can’t judge a drama series by its trailer?” Well, I took a look at the trailers for two new TV nursing-related dramas that debut next month, and…

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