Taking Action When Someone you Love May Need it the Most

Guest Post By Danielle Leach What do you do for your seriously ill loved one when you still have time with them, but not sure how much time before they die? So many people offered to help but I was at a loss when my son Mason was dying of cancer in 2007.  Luckily, before Mason died, I had good friends that did many things for us that resulted in lifetime memories for our family…

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Bruce Dan, MD Cancer Blog – 4 Tips to Help Whip Doctors and Nurses into Shape

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Part II In Part I of my blog, “Bruce Dan, MD Blogs About His Cancer Treatment”, and I highlighted areas where Dr. Dan shows humor, strength and resolve. Part II addresses issues that Dr. Dan observes firsthand that affect patient care. Dr. Dan offers his observations and I offer some simple tips to help improve patient care. Dr. Dan is now the “e-Patient” – an empowered and engaged patient…

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Medical Errors: Nurse’s Tips Can Help Prevent Medical Errors

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA This post isn’t being written to frighten you or to cause you to mistrust hospitals. It’s to make you aware that medical errors do occur, but there are steps that you can take to help prevent medical errors from happening. First, some vital information According to a recent investigation by the Hearst Corporation, a staggering 200,000 Americans will die each year from preventable medical errors and hospital infections.  This…

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Real Simple Magazine Taps Experts for Emergency Care Advice

Preparing for Life’s Mishaps by Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Having this card in your wallet could save your life in an ER When Real Simple Magazine reporter contacted me for a story on emergency rooms, I was delighted to help out.  I think it’s important for readers to have the perspective from a nurse on the front line of the ER as well as ER doctors. The March edition of Real Simple is on…

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